By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
County commissioners court members on Oct. 11 voted to begin condemnation proceedings on a property in an effort to create another way into and out of a county colonia.
A resident of the county’s Escondido Estates colonia told county commissioners court that trains routinely block the only road leading to his and other residents’ properties. Escondido Estates is an area of small ranch properties located just east of Laughlin Air Force Base.
Sergio Rodriguez told the court he has been a resident of Escondido Estates for about eight years.
“As you guys know, there is a daily railroad problem that we have there at our residential area. The only way in and out is pretty much being obstructed daily. Sometimes up to an hour,” Rodriguez told the court.
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. interrupted Rodriguez and asked if the court would allow him to move up an item on the agenda. That item dealt with the county moving to acquire a piece of property in the Escondido Estates area.
“If you don’t mind,” the judge said. “That way we can have a conversation about this.”
The item on the agenda dealt with acquiring a piece of property extending along Calle De Verdegal to the entrance of another colonia, Rancho Del Rio, along the railroad tracks.
Rodriguez then continued with his presentation.
“Commissioner Wardlaw has been very helpful. This is pretty much a daily issue for us. For example, last week, I had to get into town around 9 p.m. The train was stopped (over the crossing). We waited about an hour and still couldn’t get out. It didn’t move until 7:30 a.m. the next day, so it stayed there overnight,” Rodriguez said.
“There’s times when we have to take our kids to school. Last week, I got there (to the crossing) at 6:20, and it didn’t move until almost 9 o’clock,” he added.
Rodriguez said he believes the sheriff’s office knows residents in the area by name because they call so often.
“It’s just a daily issue. I’m not sure what it is because sometimes it’s just one or two cars that are obstructing the entrance,” Rodriguez said.
He said there is a number posted on railroad property for residents to call Union Pacific, but added calls to the number go straight to voicemail.
“Commissioner Wardlaw has been very, very helpful, but like I said, it’s a big issue. We can’t get our children to school, and what’s funny to me is I’ve never seen the entrance to the base obstructed. . . They’re obstructing the only entrance we have,” he said.
“It’s going to get to the point where one day it’s going to be a matter of life and death for someone who needs medical help and can’t get out of there. There are a lot of older residents there, and that is our only way in and out,” Rodriguez added.
“I think we’re there now,” Owens said.
The county judge said last year, county officials spoke with the owners of property adjacent to the railroad.
“But she’s been in the hospital with COVID issues, and we spoke with the daughter last week, and we came up with a price (for the property) . . . for a 50-foot wide easement the length of the property,” Owens said, adding that the owner of a second property died and his wife has to go through the probate process so the land can be put in her name.
Owens said the court has already set aside money to purchase the easement, but until the probate process is completed, “we can’t get the documents signed.”
Owens said the court would further discuss the issue in executive session.
“We will pose several questions to our county attorney to see if we can get this done,” the judge added.
When Rodriguez asked if Union Pacific could be approached and informed of the problem, Owens said trains are only allowed to block the crossing for about 15 minutes.
Owens said he would contact Rodriguez after the court discussed the matter in executive session.
“Mr. Rodriguez, I appreciate your patience. You’ve been a gentleman throughout this whole ordeal. We’ve all been fighting this, and we’ve got to do something to get it fixed,” County Commissioner Pct. 1 Martin Wardlaw said.
Following executive session, Wardlaw made the motion that the county attorney’s office “pursue an action of condemnation to acquire the property necessary to extend Calle De Verdegal between Escondido Estates and Rancho Del Rio along the railroad tracks and appropriate all necessary funds for appraisal, filing and service fees.”
County Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton gave the second.
“We’re just trying to move this forward. We’ve been working on this for over a year, and it hasn’t happened. This is probably the only step that we see that will move it forward, and in no way are we trying to do some type of taking. It’ll be appraised value, and whatever we come up with,” Owens said.
The court then voted unanimously to proceed with Wardlaw’s motion.
Owens said after the meeting if the county is able to acquire the property, it will be able to provide a second ingress and egress from Escondido Estates and other nearby areas over the railroad tracks via a second crossing at the entrance to Rancho Del Rio.
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