Resident raises transparency concerns about Vulcan quarry closure; commission says meeting will be scheduled

A resident told the Sandoval County Commission on March 12 that the public has been excluded from closure meetings related to the Vulcan quarry and questioned why the county, a named party to the settlement, had not ensured public access to the process.

Lance Boss (listed in the record as Lance Voss/Boss), who identified himself as having 30 years' experience in environmental science, said the commission is a signer to the settlement along with Vulcan and the Eastern Sandoval Citizens Association (ESCA) and that an annual meeting required by the settlement had not occurred. Boss said citizens were being excluded from decisions and called for transparency and public participation.

"Why is the public excluded from all settlement agreement meetings or processes?" Boss asked, saying he had raised the issue repeatedly and that local citizens lacked technical expertise that would allow meaningful participation.

Commissioner Brook and the county manager responded in public session that the parties had scheduled annual meetings, that timelines were affected by COVID and other delays, and that staff were working to ensure the required meetings would occur. Commissioner Brook said she anticipated a meeting "very soon" and that the county expects to have the next meeting before the end of the month. The county manager said staff were working on scheduling and coordination and did not acknowledge a closed meeting currently inaccessible to the public.

Why it matters: The Vulcan quarry closure and the associated settlement have environmental and land‑use implications for nearby residents. Public participation and access to settlement meetings are central to community oversight of long-term closure and remediation work.

What was requested and what happened: Boss asked the commission to explain why the county was not…