This week brought another mix of hot and cold weather. Please be vigilant as continuing winds can cause fire or wind damage.
Earth Day turns 50 next Thursday, April 22. Simple Suggestions to Help Protect the Earth: 1) Reduce, reuse, and recycle 2) Volunteer/participate in Corrales May 22 clean-up day 3) Educate yourself 4) Conserve water 5) Choose sustainable food (e.g., smart seafood choices at www.fishwatch.gov) 6) Shop wisely (less plastic and use reusable bags) 7) Use long-lasting light bulbs 8) Plant a tree 9) Search for non-toxic cleaning products and 10) Walk and bike more; drive less when you can.
Want more information? Check out the Corrales Community Library Earth Day displays in the Children’s Room and the non-fiction area. All the staff have contributed to the effort. Thank you! Most of all: ask your children and grandchildren – they are very tuned into environmental concerns.
Citizen kudos came in for our Fire and Public Works Departments for work done in the Camino de Lucia area. Thank you for taking the time to write in.
It is exciting that our children are back at Corrales Elementary. Please be careful and watch for children as they come and go, especially in the school zone. Speaking of which: SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD NEEDED (https://nextdoor.com/news_feed/?post=183462762&init_source=search)
Would you like to make a difference in your community and help keep our students safe? The Village of Corrales is seeking a part-time School Crossing Guard to perform traffic control duties at Corrales Elementary School approximately 10 hours per week (currently MON-FRI 8AM-9AM, MON, TUE, THU & FRI 3PM-4PM and WED 12PM-1PM, subject to change). Please submit applications ( https://www.corrales-nm.org/clerk/page/application-employment) to the Village Clerk's Office (agjullin [at] corrales-nm.org). Thank you!
The on-demand virtual concert (sponsored by Music in Corrales) of Folksinger/Songwriter Joe Crookston starts tomorrow and will be available anytime from April 17-April 25. (https://www.musicincorrales.org/concert/joe-crookston/).
Corrales has 21% of new Sandoval County COVID cases but our vaccination rate is awesome! Next Tuesday, members of the New Mexico United soccer players will be vaccinated right here in Corrales as part of the Trusted Partners program. The goal is to reassure and encourage vaccine-hesitant folks. It’s a terrific thing to do.
The pandemic doesn’t stop the need for Corrales to forge productive relationships with surrounding towns, elected representatives and other organizations. The Sandoval Economic Alliance (SEAC) held its quarterly meeting, allowing me, along with the Sandoval County Manager and the Mayors of Rio Rancho and Bernalillo, to share with local business leaders our legislative outlays, our issues and our community initiatives. Working collaboratively with the Mayor and Village of Los Ranchos gives me the chance to focus on our shared agricultural heritage and agro-tourism opportunities. The frequent Mayors’ Caucus calls help connect me with mayors around the state. My New Mexico Municipal League Board position gives me perspective about municipal concerns vis-à-vis state and federal government. Mid-Region Council of Governments is a great forum for regional concerns. Graduation from Leadership New Mexico’s Local Government Leadership Program taught me a lot and introduced me to many more leaders. The ability to tap into this network of collective experience and expertise benefits us all – to say nothing of being able to reach out to someone you know for assistance or advice.
Corrales has certainly benefited from good relationships with our state elected representatives, highlighted by our significant capital outlay awards. The state, through the good offices of Senator Brenda McKenna, and Representatives Jane Powdrell-Culbert and Daymon Ely, awarded Corrales money for the Thompson fence line trail improvements and the Meadowlark Trail (phase 2 of the project). The Village will be able to buy equipment and vehicles for our Planning and Zoning and Animal Control Departments, make needed repairs to municipal buildings and our Administrative parking lot, continue to improve the Fire Substation and upgrade our traffic signs to comply with federal reflectivity standards. These monies will be available next fiscal year and we will use every nickel. Most appreciated!
The Council took its first steps in issuing the GO bond overwhelmingly passed by the citizens in 2020. These GO bond monies will be used for denominated infrastructure improvements, such as road repairs. A regularly occurring bond program (carrying on from 2018), provides a reliable stream of capital to fund public improvement projects over time at a stable mil levy (tax) rate. It’s a powerful tool for long-term planning and funding of the infrastructure projects our citizens want.
In an informative presentation at the Tuesday Council meeting, the New Mexico Department of Transportation offered its perspective on the pros and cons of Corrales assuming ownership and maintenance of Corrales Road. Corrales Road, as a state highway (448), is currently the responsibility of NMDOT. No decisions were made, but the questions were excellent and the exchange of information continues.
Please help the P & Z and complete the survey surrounding the issues of “casitas.” You can do this online (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/N79TW2Q) or in paper (submit completed paper survey in box at Village Hall.) Thanks.
This weather may be a bit unpredictable this weekend. Extra time for indoor binge-watching? Whatever you do, please be safe and enjoy yourself, Corrales-style.
Jo Anne Roake
Mayor of Corrales