By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members on Tuesday heard an update on work done by the city’s
departments and divisions presented by City Manager Shawna Burkhart.
Burkhart reviewed her “Your City At Work – Third Quarterly Report” with the council
during its regular meeting.
Burkhart noted she would mention some of the city’s ongoing public works projects, but
that City Public Works Director Greg Velazquez was also on the agenda and would
present a more in-depth review of those projects. (See separate story.)
Burkhart told the council, “First, we have fiscal or financial sustainability. We have
completed two audits, the Fiscal Year 2022-2023 audit and the Fiscal Year 2023-2024
audit. Audit work (on Fiscal Year 2024-2025) is estimated to begin at the end of
November and the beginning of December of this year, so we are working now toward
that audit for next year.”
Next, Burkhart addressed “sustainable infrastructure.”
She said, “Many of you already are aware, but our water infrastructure needs include the
(new municipal) water well and the water treatment plant filtration system. This is being
addressed by Texas Water Development Board SWIFT funds that we believe will be
awarded somewhere around Nov. 17.
“We have also applied for the Texas Military Preparedness Revolving Loan Fund, and we
have received positive news that we are approved by them. We are simply going through
the public finance office at the state level to make sure everything is a go, and then we
will get a deadline for that project as well when those funds will start rolling in. We will
bring all of that to you for your acceptance at that time,” the city manager said.
She said she hopes to receive the funds from the Texas Military Preparedness Revolving
Loan Fund sometime in December, and those funds will help pay for the rehabilitation of
the retaining wall around the East Springs.
Burkhart said the city has issued certificates of obligation for the first phase of the Silver
Lake Sewer Project.
She said work is currently underway on the construction of a detention pond at Carranza
Park. She added the city is also working to acquire land for a second detention pond in
the San Felipe area, which will be a part of a major drainage mitigation project planned
for that area.
Burkhart said, “Moving on to the landfill. We are currently in the bid review process, and
we hope to bring you that landfill bid in the very near future, maybe at the next meeting.”
Burkhart said the city is continuing its efforts to recruit regional airline service for Del
Rio International Airport.
Burkhart said the Del Rio Fire Department’s fire recruits Radney Rohde, Gerardo
Rodriguez and Luis Bagneschi have received their Texas Commission on Fire Protection
basic firefighter certification and have been assigned to the operations division from the
training division.
“In addition, our fire department personnel documented 1,963 hours of training during
this period, to include basic and advanced firefighter training, emergency medical,
aircraft rescue firefighting and emergency vehicle driver training. Our fire department
personnel attended several community events, conducted fire station tours, participated in
science fair judging, oversaw a flag disposal ceremony, participated in Earth Day events,
a Kid’s Day Fair and a bike rodeo and made contact with more than 1,300 students and
adults,” Burkhart said.
She noted the fire department’s code enforcement division completed 134 commercial
occupancy inspections during this period.
Turning to the community services department, Burkhart said the city has received the
Keep Texas Beautiful Gold Star Affiliate award. She said the department also helped
organize the successful Coca-Cola Southwest Beverage Sustainability Week cleanup.
Burkhart said the city had requested $1,500 from the company, but after the report on the
event was submitted, the company was willing to award the city $4,000.
She said the community services department also made a presentation at the Mexican
Consulate’s 6 th year “Programa Consular de Emprendimento Para Mexicanas Exterior,” a
global initiative.
Burkhart said the department organized and hosted the Miss Fourth of July Pageant in
June and has expanded quality of life options with “Pilates in the Park.”
In the Women, Infants and Children (W.I.C.) Department, staff completed a nutrition
counseling workshop in June and were awarded certificates for nutritional counseling and
education, Burkhart said.
She noted the department has received $75,000 for new vehicles, $12,000 for new
computers, $6,000 for training and conference participation and $2,400 for new signature
pads and EBT readers.
“Moving on to the transportation department. Wow. Don’t we have a wonderful and
beautiful new transportation renovation? That building is beautiful. The Del Rio Southern
Pacific Passenger Depot building rehabilitation project was completed, and we are
thrilled with that,” Burkhart said.
She also noted the state of Texas has issued a recommendation to the National Parks
Service for final approval of the historical designation of the building and the issuance of
a plaque stating the site is historically significant.
Burkhart said the transportation department is currently working on recertifying all
drivers to be up-to-date on all required certifications and is working on cross-training the
assistant transportation superintendent to perform administrative duties or to fill in for
other employees during absences and peak times.
“Finally, TxDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) draft funding 5311 is $544,797,
with $400,380 for operations, $108,957 for project administration and $35,00 for
preventative maintenance,” Burkhart told the council.
In the nutrition department, the city has a five-year contract approved with the Texas
Department of Health and Human Services to provide home-delivered meals, Burkhart
said.
She noted the department also organized and hosted an “Older Americans Month
Celebration” at the Joe Ramos Center in May with more than 25 local and regional
agencies participating and more than 100 clients served.
Burkhart said the Middle Rio Grande Development Council has allocated an additional
$86,000 to the nutrition program for its work.
Burkhart told the council the Del Rio Police Department organized and hosted the third
annual “DRPD Egg Hunt” and coordinated a bicycle giveaway.
The department also
participated in Earth Day activities and held a blood drive at the police station with all
donation spots filled.
Police department personnel also helped plan this year’s Fallen Officer Memorial
Ceremony, joined the Special Olympics Walk, held a “Coffee With a Cop” event at U.S.
Border Patrol and an autism event at the civic center.
She said the department has received two new patrol units, coordinated with the FBI on
multiple cases, increased arrests for criminal offenses, collaborated on a student
presentation to overcome bullying and posted 17 press releases on the department’s
Facebook page between April and June.
“I think that summarizes all of the activities within our departments and divisions for this
quarter,” Burkhart told the council.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
