By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
All five members of commissioners court were present.
Commissioners court allows sale of fireworks for Memorial Day
• Commissioners court unanimously approved a request to sell fireworks for the
Memorial Day weekend with sales to begin May 21 and go through May 26. The court
approved the request with the stipulation that no fireworks with “sticks or fins” will be
sold.
Commissioners court approves resolution for fire department grant
• Commissioners court unanimously approved a resolution to apply for the Fiscal Year
2025 Border Zone Fire Department Grant Program. The county had applied for and
received $250,000 in funding through the grant, which was made available to counties
along the Texas-Mexico border by the Texas governor’s office. The funds received
through the grant could not be released until the court approved the resolution formally
indicating it had approved the initial application. County Fire Chief Jorge Vargas said the
grant funds would be used to purchase equipment like handheld radios and fixed and
portable generators.
Court designates May as ‘Community Action Month’
• Commissioners court unanimously approved a proclamation designating May 2025 as
“Community Action Month,” to recognize “the hard work and dedication of all
community action agencies.” In particular, the proclamation recognizes the Community
Council of South-Central Texas, Inc., established in May 1965. The agency, celebrating
its 60 th birthday this year, serves 30 counties in south central and west Texas.
Commissioners court delays request for Rotary Rodeo fireworks
• Commissioners court unanimously tabled a request by Roberto Palacio of Palacio
Fireworks for a fireworks display during this year’s Rotary Rodeo, scheduled to be held
at the county fairgrounds in early July. Palacio told the court the fireworks will be “low
noise” and assured the court there would be no explosions. He offered to give a
demonstration of the fireworks he plans to use, and the court agreed to view the
demonstration and make its decision on his request afterward.
Court approves posting of notice to request release of funds
• Commissioners court unanimously approved the posting of a “Notice of Intent to
Request Release of Funds” for a water line extension project along the Vega Verde Road,
which parallels the Rio Grande in far south Val Verde County. The notice, which can be
found on the county’s website, notifies the public that on May 28, the county will submit a request to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the release of Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for the installation of 8,360 linear feet of eight-
inch PVC water lines, fire hydrants, gate valves and related hardware, which will provide
first-time water service to 26 households from 7117 Vega Verde Road to 8437 Vega
Verde Road. The notice must be posted to allow public comment.
Court approves uses of county building for Mother’s Day event
• Commissioners court unanimously approved the use of the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz
County Annex Building, 315 E. Chapoy St., for a Mother’s Day Loteria event sponsored
by Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez and Texas Rep. Eddie Morales. The event
begins at 10 a.m. on Friday and will feature food, drinks, games and prizes. Vazquez said
everyone is invited.
County judge gives update on FY 2025-2026 budget process
• County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. gave commissioners court an update on the Fiscal
Year 2025-2026 budget process. Owens said he has received the preliminary numbers on
appraised values for properties in the county from the appraisal district, noting they have
increased about 2½ percent over last year. He also said he will propose to the court
raising all county employees to a 40-hour work week versus a 37½-hour work week.
Owens said he also hopes to propose a 3 percent raise for all county employees. He noted
the county also will have to deal with rising costs for employee health insurance and for
insurance on county buildings.
Commissioners court hears presentation from district attorney
• District Attorney Suzanne West gave a detailed presentation to the court on the work
her office has been doing. West discussed the number of cases her office is dealing with
because of border security operations like Operation Lone Star. West said the majority of
her office’s border security prosecutions are the results of cases filed by law enforcement
working in Kinney County. She also gave details about the Border Prosecution Unit grant
her office receives. West said meth continues to be “a big problem” in the local area.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
