By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A trio of citizens commented on the city’s proposal to increase solid waste rates, with each offering a slightly different perspective, during a public hearing on the rates held Tuesday, Sept. 22.
The public hearing was part of the Del Rio City Council’s regular meeting.
After the meeting’s opening ceremonies, Mayor Al Arreola opened the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. and recognized Del Rioan Bea Vallejo.
proposed increases in solid waste rates. Martinez said he believed the council was forced to raise
rates now because a previous attempt to increase rates was met by opposition from citizens,
including himself. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
Vallejo showed council members a trash bag she brought to the podium with her. She said the bags contained her household trash for a week, adding all of her week’s trash could fit inside two large H-E-B bags.
Vallejo then addressed her city water bill, saying, “Without wasting . . . my basic bill is $60-something. Can you imagine if I waste one drop of water how much more it will go up? I have to limit myself to the 3,000 (gallons per month).”
Vallejo said, “There are a lot of elderly who cannot afford the fees, and a lot of elderly who probably have less trash than I do, so instead of raising the rates for the waste, I think you need to think about the elderly and give us a discount because in reality, this city has taken advantage of us because we’re paying taxes, and we’re getting very little in return.”
Next, Arreola recognized Patricio Garza, a leader with The Border Organization, a grassroots activist group.
Garza said, “My comment is regarding the proposed rate increase for the trash and what is being published is a flat rate, so we have no idea what the previous rate was and what the percentage increase will be. Is it 5 percent? 10 percent? 50 percent?
“As citizens, we need to know where we are and where we’re going to, and seconding Miss Bea’s comments, we’re being taxed left and right, with no firm return on services, so please consider holding off on the rate increase until we can get a better understanding,” Garza added.
Garza also questioned the city’s process in signing a new trash collection contract with Platform Waste and then raising solid waste rates.
“We should have studied beforehand what our needs were, if a rate increase was required, and then do the signing of the contract,” Garza finished.
Arreola next recognized Del Rioan Rick Martinez.
Martinez said Del Rioans complained so strongly about rate increases proposed under a previous city administration that the rates were left unchanged.
Martinez said, “I remember that distinctly because I was one of the opposing voices. We know multiple times that we didn’t allow you guys
what the proposed increases in the city’s solid waste rates will be. Garza made his comments
during a public hearing on a proposed increase in the city’s solid waste rates, held during the
council’s meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22. (Photo by Karen Gleason)
to raise rates when they were needed to be raised. I recall that. I do history. That’s kind of what I do, and all of you know that.”
He said he knows council members don’t want to raise rates, but are “doing what you have to do for the city.”
Martinez said, “This is something that every municipality has to do, and you guys are doing what you have to do, but we always forget, including myself, that I was one of the main oppositions that went up against a municipality in the past, and I said, ‘This can’t happen.’
“And when we didn’t allow it to happen, we replaced the city council, and we replaced the mayor. That seems to happen quite a bit when I speak, but that’s all right. We replaced the city council, and we replaced the mayor.
“I know we have a very strong council that can get this done. I know what you guys are capable of. We have a lot of experience here. We have a lot of experience here in building, we have a lot of experience in real estate in Del Rio, we have a lot of experience all the way around. I have a lot of confidence in you guys.
“You are probably the best council that can get it done, to get it done. I have a lot of hope that you guys can get all these things accomplished because you have a wide array of experience. So that’s all I have to say,” Martinez said.
Martinez finished by saying he appreciated what the council is doing and said he felt confident council members are “going to take everybody here into account.”
Arreola asked if anyone else wished to speak. When no one did, Arreola gaveled the hearing closed at 6:45 p.m.
The council later in the meeting approved amending the city’s consolidated fee schedule, including the solid waste rate increases. (See separate story.)
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
