By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of Val Verde County Commissioners Court were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
County judge congratulates all candidates
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr., who won a resounding victory in his own re-election bid to the office of county judge, started the meeting by congratulating all of the candidates who ran for county offices in the 2026 general election.
Owens congratulated the winners, but added, “It takes a lot for people to throw their hat in the ring, so if you come across some of our individuals who ran for office, whether they won or – I hate to use the word lost, but there always has to be somebody that has to go home – thank them, because it takes a lot for people to run for office.”
Owens also thanked everyone who voted, adding he was not sure whether Val Verde County’s voter turnout in the 2026 general election – 38.6 percent – had set a record.
Court approves agreement for family violence protection program
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve an interlocal cooperation agreement between the city of Del Rio and Val Verde County for mutual family violence protection program funding.
Under the agreement, the city agreed to provide $7,500 per month on a month-to-month basis from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.
The agreement also calls for the county to form a committee, which will include a member appointed by the mayor to represent the city in “planning the best use of the funds to accomplish the terms of this agreement.”
The money provided under the agreement helps the county maintain and operate a family violence shelter for families seeking refuge from domestic abuse.
County approves use of county annex for ‘Christmas Around the World’ event
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to allow Del Rioan Mary Mota to use a portion of the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz III County Annex for her annual “Christmas Around the World” event on Dec. 13.
Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez explained Mota and her “Christmas” volunteers collect and buy toys for some of Del Rio’s disadvantaged children, and County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. asked Mota, who was in the audience, how persons who wanted to donate toys or make a monetary donation could contact her.
Mota provided her phone number, 830-734-7027.
Owens asked Vazquez to bring updates on the group’s efforts to the court during its next two meetings.
CASA director gives court end-of-year activity report
CASA of Val Verde County Executive Director Ana Moreno gave county commissioners court members an update on the work the organization is doing.
Moreno said the last six weeks have been “especially busy and rewarding.”
She said during September and October, four children served by the organization have been adopted into permanent homes in two separate cases.
Also, she said, six children were successfully reunified with their mothers in two separate cases, and three children were placed into the care of their maternal grandmothers.
Additionally, Moreno said, two children are moving toward adoption in one case.
She said as of Sept. 1, 2026, CASA was serving 27 children in foster care in the county.
Moreno said during the current fiscal year, CASA has trained a total of 14 advocates.
Court takes no action on commissioner’s request for new streetlight
Commissioners court members once again took no action on a request by Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores to install one LED streetlight at 109 Owens Road at the intersection of Cienegas Road, including the necessary hardware and infrastructure, and to authorize County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. to execute the AEP Texas CIAC agreement.
The expenses related to installing the streetlight, an amount of $151.21, would be paid through the Precinct 4 operating budget.
Flores made the motion to approve the request, but no one gave a second, so Owens announced that the motion died.
Flores has been seeking approval for installing the new streetlight since February.
Court approves increase in payment for motel room for county travel
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to make an exception to the $150 limit for hotel room per day, as specified in the county’s personnel policy related to travel on official business, and increase the limit to $170.
County Attorney David Martinez told the court his victim assistance coordinator, Alex Cervantes, will attend this year’s Texas District and County Attorneys Association Victim’s Assistance Coordinator and Key Personnel Conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Martinez said there is no availability in the host hotel, and the overflow hotel rate is about $170 before taxes.
Court reauthorizes application for Laughlin Air Force Base grant
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to authorize County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. to sign an updated Defense Economic Adjustment Assistance Grant (DEAAG) application for funding in the amount of $4,848,870.84 for the Laughlin Aerospace and Manufacturing Initiative at Laughlin Air Force Base.
County Engineer Carlos Velarde told the court the total amount requested increased by $150,000, and the project will be renamed “Laughlin Aerospace and Manufacturing Initiative” instead of “Val Verde Aerospace and Manufacturing Initiative.”
Court approves award for work at adult probation offices
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve an award to DLP Construction for the replacement of flooring and interior painting at the existing adult probation offices, in the total amount of $52,124, with $23,000 to be funded from the 2023 Tax Note Target Range Account.
Court approves change order for work at target range
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve Change Order No. 3, submitted by J.P. Sanchez Construction, at the request of Val Verde County, for interior construction work at the target range facility in the amount of $23,000, to be paid from the 2023 Tax Note Target Range Account.
On a question from Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores, County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said the project was bid out without the inclusion of the interior sheetrock walls and shelving.
Commissioners make comments on election
In the “Commissioners’ Comments” portion of the court’s agenda, Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez congratulated County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. on his victory in his re-election bid and said it would be his pleasure to work with Owens for another four years.
He also thanked his Precinct 2 constituents and said he is grateful for their support.
Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw said he, too, wished to congratulate all the candidates who won their election races, adding he wished to thank everyone “who came out and participated in the democratic process.”
Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores congratulated everyone who won their election races.
He thanked the people of Val Verde County for coming out and voting.
Flores said, “As I’ve stated before, your vote is your voice.”
County judge thanks county officials who supported election efforts
In the “County Judge’s Comments” portion of the court’s agenda, County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. thanked County Clerk Teresa Esther Chapoy, who also won her re-election bid, for the work she, Cynthia Reyes and the rest of her staff did in running the election.
Owens also thanked County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez for working with Chapoy to make the election run smoothly.
Finally, Owens, who recently announced a cancer diagnosis, said he would make a video today updating everyone on what he and his family are facing because of the diagnosis.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
