By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
County commissioners court has voted to hire a law firm to advise them on issues surrounding the city’s plan to build a second international bridge.
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. initiated the court’s discussion of ongoing issues arising from the city’s plans for a second international bridge and its adjoining routes during the court’s Aug. 1 meeting.
Owens first told the court he had not yet received a response to the letter the county had sent the city opposing the proposed site for planned second bridge and several of the routes from the bridge site to U.S. Highway 90.
Owens began the Aug. 1 discussion by reminding the court and audience members that it is the city, not the county, planning to build the bridge.
He then moved on to another item on the court’s agenda: possible action on hiring outside counsel for a second international bridge route.
While Owens read the agenda item, a member of the audience, Luis Maldonado, called out that had a question. Owens invited Maldonado to come to the podium and speak.
“I just had a quick question. The last time we spoke, you all agreed that you would pick the south route, correct? At the last commissioners (court) meeting? And the majority voted that you would pick the south route and present that to the city, and you all did say that if they don’t (agree), we will fight for you all. Is that still the plan?” Maldonado asked.
“I will tell you my personal response, and we have an item on the agenda today to hire outside counsel. At some point, we’re going to have to pick a route,” Owens replied.
“That’s understandable, (but) we don’t want to pick a route without putting up a fight. You can’t just bend your hands and say, here take my land. We fought hard for it. We’ve been telling you every day,” Maldonado insisted.
At that point, County Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores interjected.
“You know, sometimes you fight too hard and you kill the project. I believe in economic growth, and I do support the second bridge, so we’ve got to balance the scales with that, good and bad. You can’t have the best of both worlds. We’ve got to understand that. We have a vision for the future of Val Verde County and the city of Del Rio,” Flores said.
“But you also have to look out for us,” Maldonado said.
“I understand that, and we are doing that,” Flores replied.
Owens ended the back-and-forth between Flores and Maldonado, again saying the court had an item on its agenda to discuss hiring outside counsel.
“I’m not saying I don’t want the bridge. I’m saying (put it on the) south side (of Del Rio). There’s no displacements of homes,” Maldonado said.
Owens reiterated the court has already taken steps and repeated the county is still waiting on a response from the city.
Owens said, “Our next step is to hire attorneys to figure out do they really need us? I think their consultants have advised them that they don’t need the (county), so I think us hiring outside counsel to figure out if the battle we’re fixing to have is even worth it or are we going to gain anything?
“We’re going to do everything possible to try to get it in south Del Rio, but at that point, if that doesn’t work, we’re going to have to pick another route. I’m just trying to be honest with you,” the county judge said.
“I understand. I mean, they can’t just try to bulldoze us, and that’s how I feel what they’re doing to us. They’re trying to push it down our throats and say here’s your meal, take it,” Maldonado said.
“You’re only as good as the information given to you with the decisions that you make, right? So depending on who’s giving you that information, it could be flawed. So we’re going to find out if the information that they (city council) are being given is flawed. . . I think some of the information they’re being given is flawed,” Owens said.
County Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton interjected.
“My bigger concern is that we’re having a discussion about a mass voluntary annexation that encompasses an area almost the size of the (existing) city. An annexation process of that magnitude would literally double the size of the city overnight and would put the city in the position to extend its ETJ (extraterritorial jurisdiction) damn near to Comstock. It would affect a lot of people,” Nettleton said.
He called the entire plan to build a second international bridge “a complete and utter waste of time.”
“Do I think we’re going to need it someday? Yeah, probably 30 or 40 years from now. The numbers don’t work today. But that’s a whole ’nother conversation. My bigger concern is the size of an annexation of that magnitude into a city and the legality of it concerns me a lot, probably more than build a bridge or don’t build a bridge.
“Do I think the city needs us? I think we all need to work together to come up with a solution, whatever the solution may be,” Nettleton said.
“I agree, but we need to come to a solution that benefits Del Rio, the citizens of Del Rio and not Mexico. Our first priority should be us,” Maldonado said.
Nettleton said he appreciated the residents of Lake Ridge and Agua Vista coming to the court to voice their concerns, but advised them to go to city council meetings and enlist the help of their friends who live inside the city limits.
“You need to voice your opinions at city council. This court is trying very hard to make sure somebody doesn’t bulldoze your house,” Nettleton said.
After some additional discussion, Owens moved on to the agenda item to discuss contracting with outside counsel.
As soon as the judge had finished reading the agenda item, Nettleton said, “I’ll make a motion to authorize the county attorney to bring us a law firm that can advise us on these issues on second international bridges and annexation.”
County Commissioner Pct. 1 Martin Wardlaw gave the second.
Before the vote, County Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez asked, “Do we have any idea, judge, what something like this would cost?”
“Bare minimum, somewhere around $75,000,” Owens replied.
Flores said, “Judge, I would like for us to try and see if we can set up a meeting with the city before we go out and spend this kind of money.”
“Well, if you all don’t mind, if we get approval today, so that they can start working on it. I know (the county attorney) is already looking at a couple of firms. We will need advice on this either way, and I spoke with (City Manager) John (Sheedy) Thursday, and he did say we would be getting a letter, and the bottom line is, they’re going to want to meet with us, but again, we don’t have a true direction as to which way we can run, and I would like to have an idea of what our powers are, if you don’t mind,” Owens replied.
“I think they’re open to a conversation; I would just feel a lot more comfortable if we actually knew what exactly our authority, or our power, is,” the county judge added.
The court then voted unanimously in favor of the motion.
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