EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Board Meeting Minutes
September 8, 2025
A. Call to order: President George Franzen called the Zoom meeting to order at 4:05 pm.
B. Roll Call:
a. Directors present, representing a quorum: George Franzen, Jim Harre, Wayne Gaede, Phil Messuri, Linda Lockett and Rich Reif. Mary-Rose de Valladares, co-chair of the Land Protection Trust (LPA) was also present.
b. Absent: ALL EXCUSED DUE TO TRAVEL: Jacques Ramey. Gary Madee, and Jean Roberts.
C. Minutes: Minutes from the August meeting were approved via email.
D. Introduction of Guests: Dana Squires, an ESCA member.
E. Monthly Reports
a. Treasurer’s Report: Wayne Gaede provided a detailed written report that resides in the ESCA archives and reported the following at our meeting.
i. An ESCA balance of $43,357.86, and
ii. An LPT balance of $34,764.41.
b. IT Report by Jim Harre:
i. Jim will move the ESCA website to a less costly service soon.
1. George asked Jim to overview ESCA website info at the annual meeting.
ii. Jim reported 48 standard members and 30 joint members for a total of 108 votes.
1. George asked Jim to provide membership information at the annual meeting and election results.
c. LPT and Las Placitas Association (LPA) Report: Mary-Rose reported considerable progress on the status of the Buffalo Tract recreation project.
i. There was a 2.5-hour meeting in early September that included BLM, SWICA, LPA, Mary-Rose, George Franzen and Myron Timchin. Myron presented information about the existing and proposed trails.
ii. Funding and efforts may be concluded by late November or early December.
iii. Grant money runs out in January 2026
iv. A “developed recreation area” is intended to preclude open shooting and off-road vehicles.
v. Mary-Rose and LPA President Sandy Johnson met with Santa Anna Department of Natural Resource personnel. This was one in a series of meetings with Santa Anna over the past few years. She hopes to meet with San Felipe tribal leaders as well and awaits San Felipe’s response to her request to identify dates for a meeting.
vi. Santa Anna has received grant money to plan for wildlife corridors that includes a safe animal crossing at I-25.
vii. These tribes have not formally advised Mary-Rose of their possible intentions to acquire the Buffalo Tract or work with BLM on trading land. However, Santa Anna has informally mentioned its interest in “acquiring” the Buffalo Tract. San Felipe has reminded Mary-Rose that the Tribe asserted its ancestral claim on the Buffalo Tract in writing to Sandoval County many decades ago.
viii. San Felipe may want to meet with SWICA to discuss sensitive, sacred areas inside the Buffalo Tract. However, existing grant money may not be sufficient to honor this request.
ix. So far, the Trump administration has not formally indicated its intention to rescind the April 2024 Public Land Order Withdrawing the Buffalo Tract However, it is understood that this Public Land Withdrawal Order is on “its list.”
d. Vulcan Mine: George provided a short report: The initial reclamation work has been completed, and the land is gently contoured. The mining is scheduled to conclude on schedule in 2026
E. Old Business:
a. Georgee outlined the upcoming ESCA Annual Meeting
Sunday, October 12th at the Placitas Community Library
Meeting and Speakers: 4-5:30 PM
Ken Born District Ranger, Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands. Ken will update us on upcoming plans for hazardous fuels reduction work in the Las Huertas Canyon area and elsewhere across the Sandia Ranger District.
Elouisa “Lou” Macias Bureau Chief, Consumer Assistance Bureau, Civil Investigations Bureau, NM Office of Superintendent of Insurance. Lou Macias will discuss the New Mexico’s Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (F.A.I.R.) Insurance program.
Eric Fletcher Plant Manager of the Placitas Vulcan Gravel Mine. Eric will discuss reclamation, reseeding and closure date activities.
Sandy Johnson, President Las Placitas Association. Will talk about the status of the recreation plan for the Buffalo Tract and the involvement of the BLM.
Mary Rose de Valladares, Chairman Land Use Protection Trust. Will speak about the outlook from U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s office on the Buffalo Tract.
Katherine Bruch, Sandoval County Commissioner District 1, Serving the residents of the Town of Bernalillo, the Placitas Area, Southeastern Rio Rancho, the Pueblo of Sandia, the Village of Corrales and La Madera. Will brief us on Sandoval County’s current issues and take questions
F. New Business: None
G. Open Discussion:
a. October meeting will be combined with the ESCA Annual Meeting on the 12th of October
b. Next monthly ESCA meeting: Monday, November 10th, 2025, at 4 PM at the Placitas Community Library
H. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:06 pm.