By Jesse Jones
The Corrales Village Council held a brief meeting on March 4, rescheduled from Feb. 25 due to a power outage caused by a high-speed crash on Corrales Road. The councilors heard a presentation on using artificial intelligence-driven software to streamline the categorization and retrieval of public records, along with a discussion of the New Mexico Municipal League’s report evaluating the state’s Inspection of Public Records Act and its impact on local governments.
In other business, the council approved a proclamation supporting local farmers and agriculture, reaffirming its commitment to the village’s agricultural heritage. They also approved a franchise agreement to provide fiber-optic internet services in Corrales. Jason Casuga, Chief Engineer/CEO of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD), delivered disappointing news about the delayed Corrales Siphon project, which was covered in a separate article.
Village Clerk Melanie Romero gave the public records presentation, discussing the strain of increasing requests and the challenges municipal clerks face in keeping up with them. She emphasized the need for legislative reform and better communication to manage public records requests more effectively.
Romero also addressed a bill sponsored by Rep. Christine Chandler, D-Los Alamos, that aims to clarify aspects of the IPRA. The bill would require requesters to notify the municipality first if they believe there has been an Open Meetings Act violation rather than immediately pursuing legal action.
“Right now, the current IPRA laws automatically assume that the municipality is guilty of some sort of criminal activity; we are not innocent until proven guilty,†said Romero. “When it comes to IPRA, we are immediately considered having done something wrong, so what the clerks are asking for is a little grace to recognize that we are human.â€
Former Rio Rancho Clerk Rebecca Martinez, who retired in April, wrote the report, according to Romero. Martinez, passionate about improving records requests, has pushed for better processes.
According to Romero, municipal clerks want more flexibility to correct errors in records requests, which are currently treated as violations. They also stress the need for better communication with requesters, such as resolving missing documents before legal action. With record requests surging—Corrales alone has had 55 this year—clerks are feeling the strain, especially with time-consuming tasks like redacting body camera footage.
Zeke Chavez, CEO of Government Records AI and Materian.ai and business development lead at Bosque Labs, presented an AI-driven software to help municipalities manage records requests. He said the technology streamlines categorization and retrieval, reducing backlog and saving time. Materian.ai, his tech startup, uses AI-driven data analysis to help general contractors speed up bids.
“We are a Software as a Service startup using AI to rapidly categorize and retrieve records, specifically for FOIA and IPRA in New Mexico,†Chavez said. “The goal is to save time and reduce the backlog.â€
Chavez says AI can automate sorting, organizing and searching records beyond simple keywords. He said it would help clerks work faster and improve transparency while maintaining data security through local hosting. Human oversight, he added, remains essential.
The program is in its pilot phase and seeking municipal partners. Chavez said he happened to contact Romero before her IPRA presentation, making the timing ideal.
Agriculture proclamation
The council approved a proclamation supporting agriculture and sustainability in Corrales.
Mayor James Fahey, who read the proclamation to the council and residents, said it is in the village’s best interest to acquire, improve, operate and maintain open space to protect drinking water, groundwater recharge areas, historical and cultural sites, wildlife habitat and agricultural land, including along the Rio Grande.
According to the proclamation, USDA studies show local support for small farms reduces food insecurity, creates green space and strengthens the food system. Fahey said Corrales is committed to sustaining agriculture through education, economic opportunities and land preservation.
Traffic Safety Grant
Deputy Fire Chief Tanya Lattin told the council that Corrales secured a $400,000 federal Safe Streets for All grant, with an $80,000 state match covering local costs, to improve traffic safety.
The grant will fund traffic studies, hazard inventory and easement analysis on major roads, excluding Corrales Road, a state highway. Lattin said it also allows the village to inventory roadway hazards and identify potential walking paths.
We don’t want concrete or pavement, she said. “We want paths that fit into our rural lifestyle.â€
The grant is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $5 billion National Roadway Safety Strategy, which funds local, regional and Tribal projects through 2026 to prevent traffic deaths and serious injuries.
Lattin said she and Councilor Stuart Murray worked with the Mid-Region Council of Governments to bring the Vision Zero strategy to Corrales. The initiative assumes human error is inevitable and aims to design roads and policies that prevent severe injuries and fatalities.
High-speed internet
The council approved a franchise agreement with Ezee Fiber Texas, LLC, allowing the company to install and operate a 100% fiber optic network throughout the village. The network will provide high-speed internet, voice and data services to both residential and business customers.
According to Garner Duncan, Government Affairs Executive with Ezee Fiber, residential customers will receive a minimum of 1 gigabit per second for both download and upload speeds, with speeds reaching up to 8 gigabits in some areas. Business customers could see speeds up to 400 gigabits.
The company plans to complete the fiber optic buildout over 8 to 9 months, with construction starting in the coming months and expected to finish by 2026, all while minimizing disruptions to daily life.