EASTERN SANDOVAL CITIZENS ASSOCIATION
Board Meeting Minutes
12 May 2025
4:00 PM
A. Call to order: President George Franzen called the meeting to order via Zoom at 4:00 pm.
B. Roll Call: Directors present, representing a quorum: George Franzen, Wayne Gaede, Jim Harre, Phil Messuri, Jacques Ramey, Rich Reif, and Jean Roberts. Also present: Mary-Rose de Valladares, Co-Chair, Land Protection Trust.
Absent: Gary Madee
C. Minutes: Minutes from the April meeting were approved via email.
D. Introduction of Guests: Barry Carpenter
E. Monthly Reports
1. Treasurer’s Report: Wayne Gaede reported a balance for ESCA in US Bank as of the end of last month of $5,159.14. Income included $275 in dues, an $8 refund from insurance, and $0.02 interest. Expenses included $358 for general liability insurance, $106.05 for highway cleanup supplies, and credit card fees of $5.98. At US Eagle, ESCA had a balance at the end of last month of $37,367.09. Income included $0.04 in interest on the savings account and $112.39 on the CD, and no expenses. The total of ESCA’s accounts at both institutions was $42,526.23.
The US Bank balance for LPT as of last month was $2,312.90, and no expenses for the month. The US Eagle account balance for LPT at the end of last month was $32,053.32. Income for the month was $0.04 in interest on the savings account, $96.34 in interest on the CD, and no expenses. The total of LPT’s accounts at both institutions was $34,366.22.
Wayne will provide a year-to-date budget status report at an upcoming meeting.
2. IT Report: Jim Harre reported that we have 41 standard members and 31 joint members, for a total of 103 votes.
Jim has found a better table microphone for our meetings, and he has returned the first mic that we had tried.
3. LPT and LPA Report: Mary-Rose reported that the New Mexico legislative delegation on April 12 reintroduced the bill to protect the Buffalo Tract from gravel mining. In the Senate, the bill is SB 1464, and in the House, HB 2893.
Mary-Rose provided background on street access to the Buffalo Tract and the Albuquerque Open Space via Mustang Mesa, where residents are blocking several roads to non-resident users. Access could affect implementation of the recreation-use grant that the Las Placitas Association (LPA) is managing. Also, BLM has decided not to use the trail-mapping methodology LPA had proposed, and instead want to use pre-COVID trail maps, which will require renewed discussions with the local tribes.
4. Coronado Soil and Water (CSW)/Sandoval County Fire Emergency Response:
Discussion delayed until the next meeting when Gary will be present. —OPEN – Gary
F. Old Business:
1. 2024 ESCA Accomplishments: George will send a compilation of answers to our survey, which Phil will put together as part of our report on accomplishments. –OPEN—George, Phil
2. Adopt-A-Highway Cleanup: Phil reported that 24 people, including a local 4-H group, participated in the successful April 26 cleanup. The 4-H group may participate again in the fall to meet part of their community service requirements. –CLOSED
3. Air Quality Monitoring System: Wayne reported that he found a company called Ambient Weather that has devices costing from $130 to $200 per unit, and which need to be attached to weather stations. Wayne was asked to get more information from the NMED station. –OPEN—Wayne
G. New Business:
1. Placitas Appreciation Day: George reminded the board that this event is June 7, 9-noon. Phil, Rich, and Wayne will set up and man the ESCA table. –CLOSED
2. Annual Financial Statement on Website: George suggested we post the annual financial statement on the website. The board agreed. Wayne will send the most recent report, and Jim will post it on the website. –CLOSED
H. Open Discussion:
1. ESCA Board and Future Projects: This will be discussed at a future meeting. – OPEN
2. Sandoval County Involvement in Mine Reclamation and Closure: George reported that we received a brief list of information from Vulcan, but nothing new. County attorneys have not yet read the agreement with Vulcan. – CLOSED
3. Library System: Rich asked whether we could link in to the library’s system during our meetings there so that anyone on Zoom can see everyone in the meeting. Jim will look into this.—OPEN
4. Zoom meetings: Phil moved that we hold our June and July meetings via Zoom. Rich seconded, and the motion passed. –CLOSED
I. Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 pm.
Next meeting: 4 pm, June 9, 2025, via Zoom.