Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, March 3, 2023 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

The new year has brought us a new Congress in Washington, and the Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) has renewed efforts to urge lawmakers to pass the Buffalo Tract Protection Act. New Mexico’s Congressional delegation is working on a strategy to gain additional support for the bill in the Senate and House of Representatives. The proposal would protect the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land adjacent to Placitas from gravel mining.

The bill is one of many that were not included in the omnibus bill that Congress passed at the end of the last session. Veterans of the Washington legislative process say that it’s not unusual for bills to be re-introduced multiple times before passage.

At the same time, ESCA is continuing to urge the Department of Interior and the BLM to administratively withdraw the Buffalo Tract from gravel mining. This effort will require a unified effort by various local organizations and tribes. Although administrative withdrawal is only a temporary solution, it will preserve the land until Congress passes permanent legislation

In other ESCA news, we will celebrate Earth Day with our spring cleanup of the first mile of Highway 165 on Saturday, April 22. Through the Adopt-a-Highway Program, ESCA is helping to keep the “main street” of Placitas clean and beautiful as residents and visitors enter our area. We need your help, so please contact Phil Messuri at philmessuribot@gmail.com to volunteer.

The next monthly ESCA meeting will be March 13, 4 pm, in the Gracie Lee Room of the Placitas Community Library.

ESCA MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO ATTEND THE

ESCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Board Meeting Agenda
9 January 2022
4:00 PM
Placitas Community Library

1. Call to order

2 .Roll Call

3. Acceptance of minutes

4. Introduction of Guests

5. MONTHLY REPORT

A. Treasurer’s Report – Wayne
B. IT Report – Jim
C. LPT Report – George & Mary Rose

6. OLD BUSINESS

2023 Annual Budget – Wayne

7. NEW BUSINESS

A. What is new for the board in 2023 – Board
B. Signpost, new owners and new schedule, where do we stand – Jean

8. OPEN DISCUSSION

Article for Jan 2023 Signpost – Board – Jean

9. Adjournment

Next meeting: 13 February, Placitas Community Library at 4:00PM

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, December 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

 While the Buffalo Tract Protection Act is still working its way through Congress, New Mexico has also moved ahead with plans that underscore the need to protect the tract from gravel mining. The New Mexico Wildlife Corridors Action Plan, developed by the state’s Department of Transportation (NMDOT), lists our area as one of its top six priorities to foster safer movement of mule deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear, cougar, and smaller animals between the Sandia and Jemez Mountains.

The proposal, entitled the “I-25 US 550 Sandia-Jemez Mountains Bernalillo Wildlife Corridor Recommendation,” would provide overpasses and underpasses for animals attempting to cross I-25 and Highway 550, thereby protecting the animals as well as drivers. The animals often are unable to cross because of high traffic volumes, even at night.

 Recommended crossings include the Buffalo Tract, a key corridor for wildlife between the Sandias and the Jemez, and the plan also calls for protecting the Crest of Montezuma wildlife corridor near the village of Placitas. In developing the proposed plan, NMDOT used GPS data collected by the Department of Natural Resources of the Pueblo of Santa Ana, as well as data on vehicle crashes with wildlife attempting to cross our roads.

 The full NMDOT plan is available on the website www.wildlifeactionplan.nmdotprojects.org. The report includes an executive summary.

In other ESCA news, all five At-Large Directors were re-elected to two-year terms by ESCA members. The directors are George Franzen, Wayne Gaede, Virginia Jordan, Jacques Ramey, and Richard Reif.

ESCA’s October cleanup of the first mile of Highway 165 was a success. Some 14 members picked up five bags of trash and other debris. Through the Adopt-a-Highway Program, ESCA is helping to keep the “main street” of Placitas clean and beautiful as residents and visitors enter our area.

The next monthly ESCA meeting will be December 12, 4 pm, in the Gracie Lee Room of the Placitas Community Library.

EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION

Board Meeting Agenda
14 November 2022
4:00 PM
Placitas Community Library

1. Call to order

2. Roll Call

3. Acceptance of minutes

4. Introduction of Guests
5. MONTHLY REPORT
   Treasurer’s Report – Wayne
   IT Report – Jim
   LPT Report – George & Mary Rose
   Adopt-A-Highway clean up 22 Oct 2022 – Phil

6. OLD BUSINESS
   Election for “at Large” Board Members – Board
   Review and lesson learned Annual Meeting. – Virginia and Jean
   Compensation for Library 8 plus Annual meetings – Board
   Approval of LPT Board for 2022 & 2023 and the individuals to sign LPT Checks – Board

7. NEW BUSINESS
   2023 Draft Schedule for Meetings and Adopt-A-Highway – Board
   2023 Annual Budget – Wayne – Board
   Closed Executive Secession for ESCA & LPT Issues – Board

8. OPEN DISCUSSION
   Article for Nov 2022 Signpost – Board

9. Adjournment

Next meeting 12 Dec. 2022, Placitas Community Library AT 4:00PM

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, November 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Virginia Jordan, ESCA Board of Directors

There are two bond issues on the ballot this election that will affect Sandoval County residents. The first one is a general obligation bond in an amount not exceeding $1,885,000 for the purpose of planning, designing, upgrading, constructing, remodeling, furnishing, equipping, repairing and otherwise improving library facilities. It will also include purchasing books and other library resources for libraries within Sandoval County.

The second bond issue is for the purpose of making additions required by law and other necessary additions to the County Courthouse. It will entail acquisition of property, planning, designing, upgrading, constructing, remodeling, furnishing, equipping, and any other activities needed to complete those additions, in an amount not to exceed $41,000,000.

Library bonds are issued every two years and will result in a small tax increase. The County Courthouse expansion bond will result in a tax increase that will subside in a few years as other bonds are paid.

Sandoval County currently has five district court judges, with another to be added next year and has only three courtrooms available. The impact of not having additional courtrooms may potentially result in the release of criminals who are awaiting trial. This second bond issue will provide additional courtrooms.

An election of five At-Large Directors was held recently by the Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) via email. The successful At-Large candidates, confirmed by 76 voting members, are George Franzen, Wayne Gaede, Virginia Jordan, Jacques Ramey, and Richard Reif. The term for the At-Large Directors is two years.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, October 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Virginia Jordan, ESCA Board of Directors

You may have noticed a nip of fall in the air and that should bring to mind the General Election that is looming on the horizon. November 8th is the date so please mark your calendar and plan to VOTE. Note that Early Voting begins as soon as October 11th at the County Clerk’s Office. Sandoval County will begin early voting on October 22, and it will last until November 5.

If you are interested, for whatever reason, in voting absentee, go to nmvote.org, scroll down to Request Absentee Ballot Application Online and take a couple of minutes to fill out the necessary information. You will receive your absentee ballot application in the mail. Complete the application and return it in the mail using the free postage. You will receive an official envelope with your ballot. Vote and either return it in the mail or place it in the official drop box. Absentee ballots must be received before 7:00 pm on election day, November 8.

All Placitas residents will be voting at the Placitas Community Library. For your convenience there will be an Absentee Drop Box in front of the library.

Another Fall happening is the semi-annual ESCA Highway Clean Up effort on October 23 beginning at 9:00 am. Meet at the rest area at the start of the first mile of Hwy 165. We welcome all comers! Bring gloves, sunscreen, and trash bags.

Please note that the ESCA Annual Meeting will be held on October 2, 4:00 pm at the Placitas Community Library. Members are welcome and encouraged to attend. We will enjoy a social half hour with speakers and a short meeting to follow. We ask that you RSVP to president@es-ca.org.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, September 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

ESCA members are invited to attend our annual meeting, and please note that the date has changed. The meeting will be on Sunday, October 2, in the Gracie Lee Room of the Placitas Community Library. We will have a brief social gathering and registration at 4 pm, and then we’ll start the business meeting at 4:30. We look forward to seeing you!

If you are not yet a member of ESCA but would like to have a voice in issues that affect our community, please take a look at our website at www.ES-CA.org and join us! Our mission is to maintain the quality of life in our community, which runs from I-25—including Algodones—to the eastern border of Sandoval County. ESCA is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, and we are not linked to any political party.

Also mark your calendars for our next biannual cleanup of the first mile of Highway 165 on Saturday, October 22, from 9 to 10:30 am. Through the Adopt-a-Highway Program, ESCA is helping to keep the “main street” of Placitas clean and beautiful as residents and visitors enter our area. ESCA members will receive an email reminder, but everyone is welcome.

The next monthly ESCA meeting will be Monday, September 12, 4 pm, in the Gracie Lee Room of the library.

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, August 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

Protection of the Buffalo Tract has moved another step forward in the long process to protect the area from gravel mining. On July 19, the House Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources met to consider oral and written testimony concerning House Bill 5805, the Buffalo Tract Protection Act. The bill, as well as a similar version introduced in the Senate (Bill 180), is supported by Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Melanie A. Stansbury, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, and Rep. Jerry McNerney. Both bills would also protect the Crest of Montezuma and several smaller parcels of land within Placitas.

Oral testimony to the subcommittee explained that “gravel mining is simply not compatible with residential development as acknowledged by BLM’s own 2010 Mineral Resources report. As residential development has grown, the adverse impacts on the area’s character have increased. Gravel mines damage the land, pollute the air, defile the cultural heritage, and deplete the scarce water supply.”

Written testimony included a letter submitted jointly by the Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) and Las Placitas Association (LPA). The letter provided details from “Land of Enchantment…or Gravel,” a white paper on the impact of gravel mining on our community. The white paper is available to the public on ES-CA.org, and includes findings on a broad array of topics by subject matter experts, such as the impact of gravel mining on public health, the environment, the economy, and cultural sites.

The House bill will next move to “markup,” which is the procedure for adding and discussing any amendments.

ESCA members, please mark Sunday, October 23, on your calendars to attend the ESCA annual meeting. We will gather in the Gracie Lee Room of the Placitas Community Library at 4pm for a brief social period and registration, and then we’ll start the business meeting at 4:30. We look forward to seeing you!

The next monthly ESCA meeting will be Monday, August 8, 4 pm, in the Gracie Lee Room of the library.

Vulcan Placitas Facility
Mining Activity Update to Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
June 30, 2022

In August 2017, a settlement agreement was reached between Sandoval County and Vulcan Materials. Before extraction of materials in the north and northeast sections the agreement required Vulcan to construct a protective berm. The berm is required to be within a 100’ wide buffer area running parallel to Vulcan’s property line.

In May 2022 Vulcan began construction of the berm. The requirement was to follow the contour of the land and the berm must be 10’ high not accounting for the slope of the land. In some areas, the actual berm plus natural slope rendered the berm taller than 10’. The construction of the berm is nearing completion and should be finished by the end of June. The berm has not satisfied everyone along its path. No flexibility was provided in the settlement agreement to adjust the berm along individual properties. That was unfortunate.

Culverts have been located along the berm and Vulcan is in the final phase of installing riprap and wattles on the Sundance side of those culverts.

The remaining item is hydro-seeding the entire berm. While I do not have an exact date, I am told it will be soon.

Mining continues in the western sections until early 2023. Reclamation of that area known as (Reclamation Areas 1 & 2) will begin at that time with completion by August 2023.

Mining will move to the north and northeast sections in early 2023 and will continue until August 2026. When mining is complete reclamation will begin in the areas known as (Reclamation Areas 4 & 5) and finish no later than May 2027.

The Settlement Agreement, including a map of the Reclamation areas, is on the SMHOA website in the Member Access area under Committees. The agreement is also on the ESCA website.

Gravel mining activity is dependent on the economy and the need for material. As such, conditions may change and if they do so in an impactful way, I will let everyone know. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Respectfully,
Ron Overley
ESCA – LPT

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA)
Signpost article, June 2022 Edition

Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) Report
By Jean Roberts, ESCA Board of Directors

Efforts to preserve the Buffalo Tract adjacent to the northern edge of Placitas are making progress. A letter dated May 3, 2022 requesting administrative withdrawal of the Buffalo Tract and related parcels was sent to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland by Sen. Martin Heinrich, Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, Rep. Melanie A. Stansbury, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez, and Rep. Jerry McNerney in support of pending legislation, Senate bill 180 and House bill 5805. 

Administrative withdrawal is an important tool in situations like ours to protect land while relevant legislation is pending in Congress. According to rules and regulations, the Department of the Interior is expected to publish a notice of the request soon in the Federal Register. Further opportunity for public comment also will be forthcoming soon.

A few neighborhoods in Placitas have seen some improvements to our roads, and more work is afoot throughout Sandoval County. If you want to be sure the county is aware of needed road repairs, County Commissioner Katherine Bruch has reminded us that the county maintains an online portal where you can report a road maintenance issue. Go to www.sandovalcountynm.gov/departments/public-works, scroll down to Report Road Issues, and select Request Road Maintenance Service. You can also email Commissioner Bruch at kbruch@sandovalcountynm.gov.

And just a reminder that the next ESCA meeting will be June 20, 4 pm, at the Placitas Community Library. After June, we will return to our regular schedule of meetings on the second Monday of every month, 4 pm, at the library.