By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of Val Verde County Commissioners Court were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Cienegas residents call on court to approve Precinct 4 streetlight request
• Three residents and property owners in the Cienegas area in southern Val Verde County spoke
to the court during the “Citizens’ Comments” portion of Wednesday’s meeting, urging the court
to approve a request by Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores to install a series of
streetlights along a portion of Cienegas Road from the Duck Pond to the Del Rio Industrial Park.
The request for streetlights was on the court’s agenda for the seventh time on Wednesday.
•
Court quarrels over Precinct 4 streetlight request
• Commissioners court members spent the better part of an hour discussing three commissioners’
opposition to repeated requests by Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores to install a series
of streetlights along a portion of Cienegas Road in southern Val Verde County. The other three
commissioners on the court have opposed Flores’ request on six prior occasions. Flores asked for
placement of an item on the court’s agenda on Wednesday to inquire about his colleagues’
opposition to the project, which would cost about $4,000 and be paid from Flores’ operating
budget. Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw said he believed Flores was trying to place too many
lights at one time, and Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez and Commissioner Pct. 3
Fernando Garcia both said they opposed the project because some of the proposed light upgrades
were to be placed across from a property Flores is in the process of developing. The court took
no action following the lengthy, sometimes acrimonious, discussion.
•
Court approves installation of one streetlight following lengthy discussion
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve the installation of a new LED streetlight at
the Duck Pond crossing on Cienegas Road following a lengthy discussion. The court did not
approve the installation of five additional streetlights being requested by Commissioner Pct. 4
Gustavo “Gus” Flores. Near the end of the discussion, Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia
made a motion to approve all six lights, with the caveat that Flores personally pay for the
installation of three lights across from a property he is developing in the same area. Garcia’s
motion failed on a 2-3 vote, with Garcia and Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez voting
for the motion, and County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr., Flores and Wardlaw voting against it.
Owens said he would again place the streetlight request on the agenda of the court’s next
meeting.
•
Court hears update on public defenders office
• Commissioners court members took no action after a presentation on the indigent defense
services being provided to Val Verde County under contract with Far West Texas Regional Public
Defenders Office. Paul Chambers, the first assistant public defender who heads the Val Verde
County office, told the court the public defenders office opened its doors here on Oct. 1, 2025,
currently handles between 90 and 95 percent of all criminal cases in the county and averages 100
to 115 cases per month. Chambers told the court his goal is to work toward disposing of cases
within 90 days. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. told Chambers he had received calls from
citizens questioning the public defenders office hiring of several persons related to county
elected officials. Chambers reviewed the list of persons he has hired and assured the court no
member of commissioners court or any other county elected official has approached him about
the hiring of a relative. “I’ve hired the best people I can,” Chambers said.
•
Court approves renewal of health insurance coverage for county employees
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve the renewal of the health insurance
benefits packet from the Texas Association of Counties (TAC). Following a presentation from
TAC representatives, County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. told the court is at a 110.66 percent loss
ratio, meaning “our claims are higher than what we’re paying.” Owens said the proposed cost of
insurance will increase by $120.92 per person per month for coverage during the next fiscal year
and told commissioners court members that will translate to a total increase of $488,436.48 to
the county. The county judge said the county will likely also see increases in costs for vehicle
and building insurance.
•
Court to prioritize list of flood-prone areas for warning systems
• Commissioners court members discussed the dispersal of state grant monies under the Flood
Early Warning System Implementation Plan, Scope of Work and Budget. County Judge Lewis G.
Owens Jr. said the county has received $290,000 from the state, and the county has borrowed
$210,000 for flood warning systems on low water crossings in the western part of the county, but
Owens noted that several meetings ago, the court agreed the county would be better served to install warning sirens in Lake Ridge, Comstock, Val Verde Park Estates, Escondido Estates and
Cienegas Terrace. He also said the court discussed placing flood detection devices at low water
crossings in various areas of the county. He asked commissioners to provide him with a
prioritized list of areas in their precincts where they would want those devices placed.
•
Court approves contract for janitorial services
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to ratify a contract with DLP Services, as executed by
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr., for janitorial services for county offices from June 1 through
Sept. 30 and to authorize funding for the contract from the county’s contract account.
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Court approves purchase tractor
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of a New Holland tractor
from AGRO Equipment in the amount of $58,994.60 through a buy board co-op contract for
Precinct 3. Part of the approval included acknowledging the required budget adjustment.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
