Brett Lanier Organizes Feb. 21 Aztec Roadside Cleanup, Seeks Countywide Coalition

Brett Lanier, a first-term member of the Aztec City Commission, organized a roadside cleanup set for Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., asking volunteers to meet at Tiger Sports Complex, 1301 Old Spanish Trail. Lanier said the effort was prompted by a resident’s public comment at the first commission meeting of 2026 about litter along city and county roads, notably New Mexico Highway 173 between U.S. Highway 550 and the Aztec Motocross Track.

Lanier said in an email, "I saw this as a perfect opportunity to show that this new commission truly listens to the concerns of the citizens of Aztec." He expects the timing to be useful ahead of the motocross season, which begins March 7, so high-use public spaces near the track are cleaner when events start.

Lanier began coordinating the cleanup by reaching out to Joseph Myers, San Juan County Community Beautification coordinator. Lanier reported that Myers plans to use educational pamphlets to teach children how to properly handle trash. A second meeting included representatives from Farmington and explored forming a countywide coalition to reduce litter and improve shared public spaces. Lanier said Bloomfield, Kirtland and Aztec are "close knit" and that support and communication are growing between the municipalities.

During a phone call, Lanier framed the problem as partly cultural. "I believe it is a mentality thing. It's just a how we perceive trash and how we take care of trash," he said. He offered a concrete example: "For example, it's easy to put trash in the back of a pickup and forget about it, and you're driving down the road and it flies out. So I think it's just a lack of education of how we perceive trash." Lanier also said, "A strong community isn’t built by waiting for someone else to act, it’s built when neighbors step forward."

The cleanup and the coalition idea carry public health and equity implications for San Juan County. Roadside litter can harm local waterways, attract pests, create roadside hazards and reduce the usability of public spaces that families and children rely on for outdoor activity. Educational outreach aimed at children can help change disposal behaviors over time and reduce disproportionate impacts on neighborhoods that have fewer resources for maintenance and cleanup.

Organizers have provided the date, time and staging area, and have identified NM 173 between US 550 and the motocross track as a priority route. The event announcement did not specify whether trash bags, gloves, pickers, safety vests, disposal arrangements or registration processes will be provided, nor did it list contact information for organizers. Lanier has said he hopes to establish a biannual cleanup schedule and to leverage a countywide coalition for future cooperation and grant opportunities.

If the Feb. 21 event draws volunteers and municipal partners, Aztec and neighboring towns could move from isolated cleanups to coordinated, grant-supported stewardship of shared roads and recreational corridors, improving public health, access to clean public space and community resilience.