By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
County residents who live in the path of an alternate route between a proposed second international bridge and area highways expressed their dismay about the dangers to their homes to county commissioners court on Wednesday.
The two residents spoke during the citizen comments portion of the meeting.
The comments from both residents were about a route proposed by County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. in a letter he sent to city officials on Nov. 12.
The first resident to speak during the commissioners court meeting, Michael Brangham, said this was the first time he had ever spoken in a public forum and asked how much time he had.
“You’re supposed to have five minutes, but we’ve never really cut anybody off,” Owens replied.
Brangham told the court, “Well, a little bit about myself. I am a native-born Del Rio resident. I grew up here in Del Rio. Born, raised, went to school here over at East Side Elementary. I . . . graduated and joined the military after graduation. Like many, we all strive to leave Del Rio, as kids, and then, I joined the military, and 20 years later, I retired from the military, and, lo and behold, Del Rio called me back. This is home, right?
Brangham said “there’s something magical about it that does seem to call us back” and said he has parents and other family members who live here.
Brangham continued, “I don’t deny the fact that we could use a second international bridge. I do deny the fact that it should be put into a place or a location that could be detrimental to our community. So that’s kind of what I wanted to do, is come up here and voice my opinion. When there are viable options out there, I do not believe that we should put a second international bridge into where (it) would destroy community homes, destroy communities and neighborhoods, as the latest proposal that was presented this last week.
“We’re a little late to the game. We just found out about this within the last couple of days, so I’m still trying to get my head wrapped around it. Obviously, everybody in our neighborhood, they’re just now finding out about it as well, so as a member of our community, we are one big family here. This is all of our homes, and I think we are definitely better than this, to even consider an option to where it destroys communities and lifestyles for all of us here in Del Rio, when there’s viable options to install a second international bridge to the south of its current location,” Brangham added.
He said he was open “to having a conversation” about possible options.
After Brangham finished speaking, Owens said, “I’m not supposed to engage with you during citizen comments, but you actually did a really good job. Spoke from the heart.”
Owens then gave Brangham his cell phone number and asked Brangham to call if he wanted to have an additional conversation later.
Owens next recognized Sandra Saldua, who also said she had
county commissioners court about her concerns over possible routes between a proposed
second international bridge and area highways. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
never addressed commissioners court before.
Saldua said she owns property in the same area as Brangham, an area called Rancho Los Venados just south of U.S. Highway 90 near its intersection with Spur 349.
Saldua told the court, “I am here this morning with others, as you’ve heard. We live in the area (of a) proposed route for (the second) international bridge. Again, I am not opposed to second bridge, but I am opposed and I am sure the others that are here with me agree, that it is not true that there is nothing out there. There are beautiful things out there. There are families out there.
“So I would like (commissioners court) members to reconsider the route. This route is, again, the one that goes to Highway 90, connecting at Spur 349. So if you could please reconsider,” Saldua said.
When Saldua continued to speak, Owens stopped her and said he would like to move up an item on the court’s agenda dealing with the second international bridge so he could make comments and answer some of the questions she and Brangham had.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
