What a week! Some days gave us spring fever, others were overcast. It's been brutal for allergy sufferers. Here are some tips: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hay-fever/in-depth/seasonal-allergies/art-20048343.
March is Women's History Month. Find out what it’s all about at: https://womenshistorymonth.gov/.
Municipal Elections took place on Tuesday, March 1st. Thank you to all who voted and to Village Clerk Melanie Romero, who so diligently oversaw the election process. The just elected will take their oaths of office on March 31st at 6 pm. Please congratulate and welcome new Mayor Jim Fahey, Councilors John Alsobrook (District 4), Rick Miera (District 1) and re-elected Mel Knight (District 3). The first Council meeting of the new Administration will take place on April 11th.
The Village of Corrales looks forward to working with Jason Casuga, the new CEO of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), who replaces Mike Hamman, now New Mexico State Engineer. MRGCD faces a major water delivery problem, caused in part by the damaged Corrales Siphon, and so will have Diesel Pumps installed close to the boat ramp just downstream of the rock weir by April 1st. Meanwhile, the MRGCD is working with PNM to bring 3 phase power to the site.
Unfortunately, MRGCD also has little storage water available for the 2022 season and irrigation will depend on natural inflows. Poor climate forecasts and a large Rio Grande Compact (water) debt likely means significant changes to irrigation delivery. Corrales may be especially hard hit, given that the Corrales Siphon is not operational. Irrigators should stay in contact with their ISOs for updated information.
Some better news on the COVID front. February brought almost 80% fewer cases than January, and the lowest daily case count (2) since last October. Almost 72% of Villagers have been vaccinated. Mask mandates have been lifted in most settings. Please continue to use appropriate COVID safe practices and wear a mask if it makes you feel more protected.
There’s still time to enjoy the online Music in Corrales with Clair Huangci, now through March 6th. Buy tickets at https://www.musicincorrales.org/ticket/claire-huangci-tickets/.
Help clean up the Bosque! The CBAC Clean-Up event takes place on March 12th from 10 am - 12 pm. Park at the Alameda parking lot on the north side of Alameda. Bring a hat, water and sunscreen. CBAC will provide bags to help you pick up trash on the south end of the bosque.
March 8th at 6:30 pm, attend the next Corrales Village Council Meeting. This is our last (we hope) zoom only meeting. Find the Agenda and public packet materials online. Wonder what your Village government is doing? Here’s one example from the Agenda. Chapter 18 of our code deals with land use regulations and is heavily used because it deals with permitting, planning, development and building. Many of the regulations needed clarification to make them easier for folks to understand and for Planning & Zoning to explain. So, more than a year ago, the Village entered into a contract with the professional planners at the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG). While parts of the suggested changes have already been approved by Council, more draft amendments were presented for discussion on February 22nd. After months of work by MRCOG, the Planning and Zoning Department, the citizen members of the Planning & Zoning Commission, the council appointed citizen Steering Committee, Village counsel and the Governing Body, the final version of the proposed amendments are up for passage. And there are more. Tune in!
Daffodil Days, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Corrales, will be Friday, March 18th from 1 - 6 pm. Drive-thru pick up will be at the Corrales Growers Market lot, Ex Novo and the Post Office. The bunches are free, but donations are welcome and will benefit the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation's Annual Daffodil Days for the Robert Wertheim Hospice House.
This weekend is going to start in the 70’s and end in the 40’s. Wear layers! On March 6th, enjoy First Sunday in the Village (10 am - 4 pm) (https://visitcorrales.com) and the Corrales Growers Market (11 am - 1 pm) (https://corralesgrowersmarket.com/). Whatever you choose to do, please enjoy yourselves, Corrales-style.
Jo Anne Roake
Mayor of Corrales