By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
The head of an association of landowners with property on the city’s east side is
demanding the city council deannex their lands and threatening legal action if the city
doesn’t act.
Joe Skelton, president of the Lowe Estates Landowners Association, called for the de-
annexation of the Lowe Estates, which includes a swath of properties on the city’s east
side, during the citizen comments portion of the council’s meeting on Feb. 25.
Lowe told the council, “My name is Joe Skelton, from the Lowe Estates Landowners
Association. Many of you know that we have been fighting for dis-annexation. Nearly
two years now, (and) enough’s enough.
“I can’t get through anybody anymore. It’s sad. We’ve closed down the roads. The roads
are private roads, as you all know. Our roads are getting in shambles right now. We’re
having to pay the upkeep,” Skelton said.
He went on, “I reached out to a firm on this, let them know what was going on. I also
reached out to the Texas Attorney General’s office, and they’re like, ‘That place is
annexed?’ I said, unfortunately. It was an under-handed deal, or whatever it was. We
can’t even find information on it.
“Searched through the county records. Searched through information requests through the
city of Del Rio. Nothing came up on it. Two years ago, we approached here. They talked
the talk, and there was nothing done about it.
“I’m here to give you all two weeks’ notice. The next (council) meeting, a decision needs
to be made to deannex or what you all are going to do. If not, then we’re going to move
forward in a legal way, and I don’t think you want to know what the estimated cost is for
the city of Del Rio,” Skelton said.
He pointed out there were “two rows back there” in the audience filled with Lowe Estates
landowners.
“This is public that I’m making this speech right now. I think it’s time that you all hear
us. We’re not the stepchildren anymore,” he said.
He described one of the chronic problems that occurs in the area.
“Yesterday, we had people dump hazardous waste on the Lowe Estates by the (San
Felipe) Creek (crossing). What happens if it rains? Where does that go? It goes into the
drinking water. And that’s the truth, because the Del Rio Police Department came and
investigated it,” Skelton said.
“Something’s got to be done. No more sitting on your hands. I know (Mayor Pro-tem
Jim) DeReus and the mayor and everybody’s been very helpful, but I haven’t heard a tick
out of the new city manager or anybody else. We’ve got to get something done. It’s an
emergency. That’s all I have to say,” he finished.
Skelton spoke to The 830 Times about the issue on Monday.
He said no one from the city contacted him following his comments to the council.
“I expected them to do something,” Skelton said. “I haven’t heard one word, no emails,
no phone calls, nothing.”
Skelton said he approached the council on Feb. 25 in a last-ditch effort to avoid litigation.
“We have been trying to avoid legal action. It’s the last thing I want to do because I know
it will cost (city) taxpayers money, so we wanted to approach the council one last time,”
Skelton said.
Skelton said he was told by former City Manager John Sheedy that “the city does not
have the money to go out there and do what needs to be done.”
Skelton said, “We are paying city taxes and receiving no city services, and that’s just not
right.”
Skelton said he and other Lowe Estates property owners have met with County
Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez and county attorneys and “come up with a
good plan for the county to take over the roads.”
He added, “The plan would benefit us and benefit the public, but the city has to denannex
us first.”
The city council took no action on Skelton’s demand during their meeting on Tuesday.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
