By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A county resident who said he has more than 1,200 signatures on a petition against the proposed placement of a second international bridge north of Del Rio recently urged city council members to represent all their constituents.
Jordan Ediger, a county resident and a member of the Amistad Community Action Committee, spoke to the council during its May 14 meeting.
Ediger told the council, “I heard that we’re planning on creating a second international bridge here in Del Rio, and I’m just going to say, I have no problem with the city of Del Rio building a second international bridge. None at all. In fact, over the last two years, that hasn’t really been a point of discussion.
“So any discussion, and proponents for a second international bridge, saying that myself or our group, against a second bridge, is irrelevant, because that is not the point of discussion. The point of discussion is location,” Ediger added.
Ediger reiterated the more than 1,200 persons who signed the petition agreed with the following statement:
“We, the residents of Del Rio and Val Verde County, demand that a new international bridge not be placed north of Del Rio between the city of Del Rio and Lake Amistad. A new international bridge north of the city of Del Rio places all the residents who live in between the city of Del Rio and Lake Amistad at a significantly increased safety and security risk. In addition, the development of further international truck traffic north of Del Rio will reduce the valuation of the residential property of the residents of Val Verde County and effectively, the economics of the city of Del Rio.” Ediger read.
He said an international bridge south of Del Rio is “the only feasible option for Val Verde County and Del Rio.”
Ediger said the petition contains the signatures not only of county residents, but of city residents as well.
He told the council, “I’ve heard it said that this is a county-only thing. Well, we all live in Val Verde County so that’s true, but many of these folks, a large portion of them, and you’ve received a copy of this (petition), are city residents, who you represent. And by failing to represent wisely, what you’re doing is you’re telling the entire community that no matter if you’re agreeing with us, we’re okay.
“But if you happen to come up with a petition with 1,208 signatures, if it’s not convenient, and we don’t agree with it, well, then, we no longer represent you. That’s what you’re communicating by continuing on and not even discussing alternatives,” Ediger finished.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
