County takes on fiscal agency of nonprofit projects

BERNALILLO — Handling money can be a bit of a task, especially when a nonprofit wants to make some changes.

Sandoval County is now the fiscal agent for three nonprofit projects following votes at a commission meeting Dec. 1o.

Two of the nonprofits' requests went off without a hitch. Storehouse West and St. Felix Pantry both have plans to improve their programs and needed the county to oversee the money and administrative tasks. Both are preparing for grants to follow the projects through. Tim Sheahan, director of St. Felix, was present to thank the commission for taking on the role and explain that need is not going down.

Storehouse West plans to purchase a forklift, a security system and renovate an old storage area into an office area. St. Felix is looking to enhance its equipment by getting a box truck and a fork lift.

The other nonprofit project was heavily discussed as four people spoke in public comment about it. The Placitas Artists Series and Unincorporated Area of Placitas received a grant and plan to add an outdoor plaza with pedestrian space and trails to the village. However, members representing the San Antonio De Las Huertas Land Grant strongly opposed the project.

"At our land grant meeting on the 6th of December, our membership unanimously voted in opposition to the PSA project," Kendra Lucero-Matucci, president of the group, said.

She requested the commission postpone the vote on acting as fiscal agent. She said the main concern is community involvement in the process, which she said has not happened yet.

"There's a lack of transparency, lack of community involvement and insufficient cultural awareness and planning," she added.

Her vice president, Dr. James Gonzales, added that the village of Placitas is in the midst of water shortages and lacks proper studies to improve. He also said the current zoning of where the project would be is for private land.

Two others agreed with Lucero-Matucci and Gonzales. All asked for a postponement.

However, County Manager Wayne Johnson and grant writer Laura Chavez explained that just because the county is accepting fiscal duties doesn't mean they support nor lack support of a project that a nonprofit is hoping to do. Additionally, fiscal agency does not guarantee the project will happen.

Through discussion among the commissioners, it was decided to add the requirement that the Placitas project come back to commission for due process if money changes in the future. However, the fiscal agency vote will help get studies for the project moving forward but that the project could be denied by planning and zoning or even ultimately the commission should it get that far. There is a possibility of the county owning part of any project they are fiscal agent of if they contribute money.