Email to Edgewood Town Commissioners Regarding Statements at the Commission Meeting of 10 June 2025

Dear Edgewood Commissioners

Deborah Suddarth and I are residents of Sandia Airpark (40 Blanco Drive).  We are neither plaintiffs nor defendants in any of the lawsuits that currently embroil the Airpark and the Town of Edgewood, however we are concerned residents who seek to preserve the Airpark and to build up its role in the community for the betterment of all.

After watching the video recording from the town commission meeting last Tuesday (10 June 2025), we saw the need to respond to the statements from attendees Former Commissioner Jerry Powers and Mr. Richard Baker.  These individuals are our current HOA board vice president and president respectively.  They came along with their group of supporters.  The commission topic at hand was the draft resolution regarding the disposition of the portion of Rainbow Road contained within the Airpark.  Our board and their supporters made statements that can be summarized as:

1. They claim the roads in Sandia Airpark are already public. (belong to the Town?)
2. They say that Airpark residents who disagree with the board are bad people.

A fairer portrayal of the situation is in order.  To avoid cluttering your email, I have provided information in a blog post at https://kloudcraft.com/blog/2025/06/17/background-regarding-sandia-airpark-roads-and-the-boards-attempt-to-abandon-ownership-and-the-hoa/.  The post covers the following:

• There are very good reasons for the Sandia Airpark HOA (SAEPOA) to remain intact and in ownership of its roads, for the good of the community as well as the residents of the Airpark.
• The Board wants SAEPOA to abandon ownership of the roads, possibly related to their desire (and intense efforts) to dissolve the HOA as well.
• The 40 pages of documents submitted by Mr. Powers do not confirm public ownership.  Rather, they show the roads are designated for public use, but not publicly owned.  (Private ownership, public use) See https://kloudcraft.com/blog/2025/06/17/review-of-40-pages-submitted-by-mr-powers-to-town-commission/.
• The commissioners should not fear Mr. Powers veiled threat that they could be found in violation of the NM constitution.
• Contrary to Mr. Powers statement that he is not seeking town maintenance of the roads (just ownership), he has sought town maintenance in the past and he will likely change his position again.
• The fact that a prior board attempted (improperly) to put up a gate failed to pass.  It is wrong to state that the Town must take possession to prevent road blockage.
• Potential conflicts of interest and relationships exist within Mr. Powers group that could embroil the Town in improper actions.
• The SAEPOA Board’s opponents are community-minded people that the Commission should listen to.  The board’s derogatory characterization of their neighbors is not just insulting, rather it is an improper characterization of a large group of Edgewood residents.

We understand the Commission’s desire to stay out of a private dispute, but it now appears that this is unavoidable.

Deborah and I would be delighted to speak with you or anyone on your staff about this situation should you wish to reach out to us.

Steve and Deborah Suddarth
40 Blanco Drive, Edgewood, NM 87015
(505) 803-2684