Transparency

Transparency
Pursuant to the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA), every person has the right to inspect the public records of Cibola County. The Cibola County Board of Commissioners is committed to compliance with the Act and via Resolution #19-04, the Board has designated the Recording and Filing Deputy Clerk as the County's custodian of public records.  The resolution is renewed each year and can be found in the "I Want To..." Review Documents tab under Inspection of Public Record.  The Cibola County Clerk is the official keeper of all recorded records for the County.

 A person desiring to inspect public records may submit a request to the County Clerk's Office orally or in writing.  However, the procedures and penalties prescribed by the Act apply only to written requests. A written request must contain the name, address, e-mail address and telephone number of the person making the request and may be submitted via the form identified above. The request must describe the records sought in sufficient detail to enable the records custodian to identify and locate the requested records. You can find a downloadable copy of Cibola County's Public Records Request Form in the "I Want To..." Review Documents tab under Inspection of Public Record.

The records custodian must permit inspection immediately or as soon as practicable, but no later than fifteen (15) calendar days after the records custodian receives the inspection request.  If inspection is not permitted within three (3) business days, the person making the request will receive a written response explaining when the records will be available for inspection or when the public body will respond to the request. If any of the records sought are not available for public inspection, the person making the request is entitled to a written response from the records custodian explaining the reasons inspection has been denied. The written denial shall be delivered or mailed within fifteen (15) calendar days after the records custodian received the request for inspection. 

If a custodian determines that a written request is excessively burdensome or broad, an additional reasonable period of time shall be allowed to comply with the request.  The custodian shall provide written notification to the requester within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the request that additional time will be needed to respond to the written request.

If a person requesting inspection would like a copy of a public record, a reasonable fee may be charged and the fee schedule is listed on Resolution #16-20.  Cibola County will request that applicable fees for copying public records and postage be paid in advance, before copies are made.  A receipt indicating that the fees have been paid for making copies of public records will be provided upon request to the person requesting the copies.

Attorney General's Inspection of Public Records Act Compliance Guide