By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of Val Verde County Commissioners Court were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Animal rescue group director thanks court for financial help
Jessica Halprin, founder and director of Border Animal Mission (BAM), thanked the court for setting aside $6,500 in funding for a multi-day spay and neuter clinic the organization is planning. Halprin said so far this year, BAM has fully vetted and transported 405 animals out of Del Rio. She said over the course of two previous spay and neuter clinics, BAM and its partner organization, Helping Paws Across Borders, have sterilized 952 animals, saving the community an estimated $257,000, based on local vet rates for the procedures. Halprin said the group has also started offering free microchipping services to local pet owners and has been awarded a grant to offer free core vaccines to animals brought to the microchip clinics, which are being held in the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz III County Annex.
Court accepts donation for women’s shelter
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to accept the donation of $1,710 in cash and a Maytag heavy-duty washing machine for the county women’s shelter. The donation was presented to the court by Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Gina Garcia, standing in for Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, and by Oscar San Miguel. San Miguel told the court the fundraiser was the brainchild of Gilbert Torres, with the Department of Homeland Security, and the money was raised during a law enforcement cook-off and a goat roping, an event sponsored by San Miguel and Son Auction.
Hill Country MHDD to host grand opening
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to allow Hill Country Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Centers (Hill Country MHDD) to host a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 25, at the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz III County Annex, 315 E. Chapoy St. Rachel Cedillo, Hill Country MHDD director, told the court the office at the county annex will be an extension office of Hill Country MHDD and will not only provide services to clients from the area, but work in tandem with some of the other agencies housed in the annex.
Court votes $6,000 in funding for IGNC’s Fiesta de Amistad event
Commissioners court members voted 3-2 to allocate $6,000 of county hotel occupancy tax (HOT) monies to the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC) Del Rio Chapter to help fund the organization’s annual Fiesta de Amistad celebration. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. recognized former Del Rio City Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez, who told the court about the history of the Fiesta de Amistad event and urged the court to continue contributing funds to it. Owens said he could not support a contribution beyond $4,800, the most the court gives to a for-profit organization that organizes an annual event that brings visitors to the city. Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez, Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores and Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia voted in favor of the $6,000 contribution, with Owens and Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw voted against it.
Court votes to postpone setting weight limit on county roads
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to table a decision to set weight limits for vehicles on county roads. The court discussed beginning the process of setting weight limits. After some discussion, County Attorney David Martinez also suggested a committee of other county officials to assist his office in developing guidelines for the weight limits. The committee will be comprised of County Engineer Carlos Velarde and a member of the county attorney’s office. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said he would like to serve on the committee, and Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez said he would like to be on the committee as well. Owens said he would place the item on the agenda of a future meeting.
Court allows use of county annex for heart awareness program
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to allow the use of the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz III County Annex, 315 E. Chapoy St., by the Homero Martinez Heart Failure Foundation on Saturday, Oct. 24, to present a bilingual heart failure and amyloidosis community heart awareness program.
Court votes to postpone decision on second self-help center
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to table a decision on opening a second self-help center at the Val Verde County Community Center in Precinct 4. The discussion began as a request by Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores to establish a self-help center, similar to the one currently existing in Precinct 2, at the Val Verde County Community Center to serve Chaparral, Cienegas, Vega Verde, Chihuahua, Comalia and the surrounding areas. The center would be open to the public at no cost. Among the services offered at the self-help center is a tool lending service. County Auditor Matthew Weingardt said he would look into Flores’ request, and County Attorney David Martinez said if public funds are expended, the court will have to pass an order determining the self-help center serves a public purpose. Robb Stevenson, the administrator of the county’s current colonia self-help center grant, told the court that currently 95 percent of the persons who check out tools from the self-help center reside in Precinct 2. After the discussion, Owens said he would bring the item back to the court’s next meeting, and the court voted to table the issue.
Court approves renewal of agreement for air ambulance program
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to renew the inter-local agreement effective Oct. 28, 2026, through Oct. 27, 2027, for joint participation in the county-wide air ambulance membership in the amount of $32,227 to Val Verde Regional Medical Center and $17,380 to AirMedCare for membership cost for a total of $49,607 and authorized County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. to sign the agreement. Owens noted the money for the agreement was already budgeted.
Court approves contract for construction of sports complex parking lot
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve a contract to Ingram Readymix for concrete material to construct the parking lot at the Robert “Bob” Chavira Sports Complex and authorized County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. to execute the contract upon review and approval by the county attorney. Funding will be provided by the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
