By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
Del Rio City Council members recently approved a contract to provide transportation services to residents of Val Verde Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
The contract was approved during the council’s Dec. 12 meeting, with council members voting in favor of a resolution to authorize the city manager to execute a contract between the City of Del Rio Transportation Department and the Val Verde Nursing and Rehabilitation Center to provide services for medical appointments and emergency evacuations.
Mayor Pro-tem Steve Webb made the motion to approve the resolution, and Councilman J.P. Sanchez gave the second.
Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon had questions regarding the contract, and Esther Avila, city transportation director, came to the podium to answer them.
“I like that the transportation department is reaching or providing services to the community outside from what you all have, but (the contract) is but here it’s just identifying one entity, and we have others in the city,” Calderon said.
Calderon asked Avila to elaborate, and Avila said this is a renovation of a contract with the Val Verde Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
“We have had an existing contract in the past, so the one being presented here is just a renovation of (our contract with) this particular facility; we do service with other facilities as well,” Avila replied.
City Community Services Director Esme Meza joined Avila at the podium and added the director for the nursing and rehabilitation center wanted to renew the contract.
“What they were doing was utilizing the on-demand service, so they would call when they had a patient or two. But they had several that needed transport, so with their facility they decided they would like to renew the contract,” Meza said.
“Ms. Avila had reached out to the other nursing homes and is inquiring if they would like to renew the contract(s) they have, instead of just using the service where you call the day before to schedule an appointment,” Meza said.
Calderon also mentioned the contract was not specified as being a renewal, and T. DanielSantee, interim legal counsel, if a copy of the renewal contract was needed.
“They are referring it to a renewal, but it is more of a revival of an existing arrangement. But this is a new contract,” Santee said.
Santee said he was told the other entities were to be informed about the new contract. If the other entities agree to the contract, their arrangements can be forthcoming to the council.
Calderon said she would like the other entities that want to be part of the new contract to be present at the future council meetings.
Meza said the plan is the bring all the contracts together in the future.
