The ES-CA board met on September 2, 2014. All seven Board members were present: Bob Gorrell (BG); Orin Safier (OS); Ed Majka (EM); Chris Daul (CD); and, Jerry Saxton (JS), Lynn Koch (LK); and Tony Hull (TH). Also in attendance were: Susan Fullas; Judy Labowitz; Dick Ulmer; George Franzen; and, Scott Stevens.
Dick Ulmer reported on the Land Use and Planning Trust and noted the following items: there was a Signpost article on lack of enforcement by the Air Quality Bureau, concerning LaFarge; total contributions are over $39,000 to date; LaFarge has been sold to Vulcan/CalMat; the LPT Board favors joining the lawsuit that the County has against LaFarge, but has some issues to discuss first. A meeting was held on 8/28/14 to discuss water issues in the Placitas area. It was noted that the largest concentration of arsenic in groundwater is where LaFarge is located. There are no NM state standards on silica in the air. It is a carcinogen that is found in sand and gravel mining operations.
Ed Majka reported on the following items for the Political/legal Committee: ESCAFCA approved a 2.2 million dollar bond issue for the November election. The proposed annexation of Fisher Sand and Gravel may be on the next agenda of the Bernalillo Council meeting. Ed will notify all ES-CA members if and when this item is on an agenda.
There are three at-large director positions are up for election this year. BG and LK are running for re-election. OS is not running for re-election. Susan Fullas has decided to run. Elections will be held in November. All ES-CA members are eligible to run for this position and to vote. Please let Bob Gorrell know if you are interested in running.
Bob Gorrell reported on the I 25/Rt. 550/165 Interchange that he and OS met with David Wilson (the engineer retained by NM DOT to review the project) to discuss his preliminary report. He did acknowledge ES-CA’s concerns about the missing acceleration lane from I 25 NB to Rt. 165 EB, lack of adequate signage and some other issues. BG will schedule a meeting with NM DOT to discuss this report.
ES-CA is hosting a Candidates’ Forum on Saturday, September 20th, from 2-4 pm at the Placitas Community Center. Flyers advertising the event are being placed around Placitas. OS will send e-mails to ES-CA members reminding them of the event. Ed has prepared a handout listing the format and bios of all of the attending candidates, which will be given out to all attendees on the 20th.
ES-CA is hosting a Member Appreciation Party on Sunday, September 28th, from 5-7 pm, at the Placitas Community Library. All ES-CA members are invited and will also be encouraged to bring a guest. Wine, water and light food will be served. It will be a good opportunity to meet your neighbors and the Board members.
Orin reported that iContact is working well as the new system for contacting ES-CA membership. The Board unanimously agreed to retain Chris Miller to manage and update the ES-CA website.
The Board unanimously agreed to issue a Statement of Support, concerning what ES-CA would like to see done with the management of the Buffalo Tract in the BLM land. Bob will be posting a separate article here in the Forum about this issue.
ES-CA is responsible for litter cleanup on the first mile of Rt. 165 in Placitas. Bob reported that litter cleanup was done last month but that participation was minimal. Members are encouraged to participate in this activity as it benefits the whole community.
The next Board meeting will be on Monday, October 6th, beginning at 6:30 pm at La Puerta Realty. All members are welcome to attend.