Several organizations rank Corrales among the safest places to live in New Mexico and village leaders are seeking to increase that status by making sure emergency responders can get to residents as quickly as possible. (Courtesy photo)
By Rodd Cayton
The addresses in Corrales need addressing, and the Village Council will have an opportunity to help get things straightened out.
Representatives of MCM Consulting Group Inc. appeared at a September council meeting to discuss the issue and possible solutions. Between 25 and 30 addresses in the village are not compliant with the numbering scheme. Some are out of order, some are even numbers that should be odd, and some are addressed on streets that don’t reflect the location of the actual entrance.
Fire Chief Anthony Martinez said incorrect and unmarked addresses have led to delays, with residents later complaining. “‘It took the fire department 15, 20 minutes to get here,’” he said, reciting a common lament. “Well, what they’re not seeing is, when did we get the call? Did we get the right address? I hear it all the time, ‘Chief, your people don’t know where they’re going,’ and I tell them, ‘yes, they do know where they’re going. They just can’t find the numbers.’”
MCM’s Jason Boblin told councilors the firm has contracted with Sandoval County to update its GIS data and mapping. He said MCM is assisting other communities as they work to match New Mexico’s addressing handbook. The firm recently helped the Town of Bernalillo put together an addressing ordinance that created policies and guidelines to give officials the tools they need to be able to adjust addresses if needed.
Boblin said the firm would look to the council for guidance, but recommends reviewing the current ordinances and ensuring the village can make the changes. He said it’s also possible that the review will reveal more non-compliant addresses.
Councilors seemed to believe cleaning up the addressing system would be beneficial not only for emergency responders, but also for delivery companies and others. At the same time, they expressed concern about how residents who haven’t had problems with their misaligned addresses would respond to the extra paperwork involved.
The pair suggested village officials prioritize the addresses that are most problematic in terms of potentially delaying an emergency response.
Village Administrator Melanie Romero told councilors MCM representatives have had several meetings with Martinez and with planning and zoning staff. The firm has offered to customize an ordinance for Corrales, she said.
The department, she said, now has a book aboard each of its tricks detailing how to get to certain hard-to-find homes.
Romero acknowledged that some residents could find changing addresses to be difficult. She said village officials have also talked about the possibility of a “tag” system that would “flag” a property, and delay a required change until it is sold. She noted that the county is paying for MCM’s work.
Adam Lester, a senior GIS consultant with MCM, recommended that an ordinance allow six months for residences (or 12 months for commercial properties) to become compliant.
“That gives the resident enough time to do all the necessary steps for changing insurance, mortgages, things like that,” he said.
Councilor Bill Woldman encouraged village leaders to spread the word about the need for reflective signs that mark addresses. The fire department makes and provides signs and poles, with a maximum price of $25.
Signs are required, but residents are not required to buy them from the village.
Addressing addressing in Corrales: Consultant briefs Village Council on house number fixes
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By Rodd Cayton
The addresses in Corrales need addressing, and the Village Council will have an opportunity to help get things straightened out.
Representatives of MCM Consulting Group Inc. appeared at a September council meeting to discuss the issue and possible solutions. Between 25 and 30 addresses in the village are not compliant with the numbering scheme. Some are out of order, some are even numbers that should be odd, and some are addressed on streets that don’t reflect the location of the actual entrance.
Fire Chief Anthony Martinez said incorrect and unmarked addresses have led to delays, with residents later complaining. “‘It took the fire department 15, 20 minutes to get here,’” he said, reciting a common lament. “Well, what they’re not seeing is, when did we get the call? Did we get the right address? I hear it all the time, ‘Chief, your people don’t know where they’re going,’ and I tell them, ‘yes, they do know where they’re going. They just can’t find the numbers.’”
MCM’s Jason Boblin told councilors the firm has contracted with Sandoval County to update its GIS data and mapping. He said MCM is assisting other communities as they work to match New Mexico’s addressing handbook. The firm recently helped the Town of Bernalillo put together an addressing ordinance that created policies and guidelines to give officials the tools they need to be able to adjust addresses if needed.
Boblin said the firm would look to the council for guidance, but recommends reviewing the current ordinances and ensuring the village can make the changes. He said it’s also possible that the review will reveal more non-compliant addresses.
Councilors seemed to believe cleaning up the addressing system would be beneficial not only for emergency responders, but also for delivery companies and others. At the same time, they expressed concern about how residents who haven’t had problems with their misaligned addresses would respond to the extra paperwork involved.
The pair suggested village officials prioritize the addresses that are most problematic in terms of potentially delaying an emergency response.
Village Administrator Melanie Romero told councilors MCM representatives have had several meetings with Martinez and with planning and zoning staff. The firm has offered to customize an ordinance for Corrales, she said.
The department, she said, now has a book aboard each of its tricks detailing how to get to certain hard-to-find homes.
Romero acknowledged that some residents could find changing addresses to be difficult. She said village officials have also talked about the possibility of a “tag” system that would “flag” a property, and delay a required change until it is sold. She noted that the county is paying for MCM’s work.
Adam Lester, a senior GIS consultant with MCM, recommended that an ordinance allow six months for residences (or 12 months for commercial properties) to become compliant.
“That gives the resident enough time to do all the necessary steps for changing insurance, mortgages, things like that,” he said.
Councilor Bill Woldman encouraged village leaders to spread the word about the need for reflective signs that mark addresses. The fire department makes and provides signs and poles, with a maximum price of $25.
Signs are required, but residents are not required to buy them from the village.
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Rodd CaytonSenior Reporter
Rodd Cayton is a senior reporter with nm.news covering local news and government as a local reporting fellow with NM Reports. More by Rodd Cayton