By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Del Rioans and city council members were reminded to vote in the city’s upcoming runoff election during the interim city manager’s update Tuesday on ongoing city activities.
Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez also spoke about several ongoing projects and honored a slate of long-time employees during the update, given during the council’s regular meeting on Tuesday.
Chavez began by telling the council and audience, “I want to remind everyone there will be a runoff election for Councilperson At-Large, Place A, which begins next week with early voting that will take place here at City Hall, in this particular room, council chambers, Monday through Friday, June 3 through June 7, and again Monday and Tuesday, June 10 and June 11, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“Election Day is Saturday, June 15, (with voting) from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the following polling places: City Hall, Del Rio Civic Center and the Joe Ramos Center,” Chavez said.
The interim city manager also spoke about several ongoing city projects, including the search for an alternate city water source.
“My next update is just a reminder to the public that we are still in Stage 2 (drought contingency) water conservation. I also wanted to let everyone know that the ERT (electrical resistivity tomography) study, which will be done at the archery range that will begin tomorrow, May 29, starting at approximately 8:30 a.m.,” Chavez said.
In previous meetings, staff had informed the council the tests would help determine the best site to drill for a new water well.
“I also wanted to make everyone aware there is final testing being done at the city’s water treatment plant for the generator, and that testing should also begin tomorrow (May 29). This testing will complete the water treatment plant generator project that we have had on the books for quite some time.
“The advanced metering infrastructure, the AMI project, is 60 percent complete and again, just a reminder that is the automatic meter-reading project for water and gas meters,” Chavez said.
Chavez informed council members there will be a special work session on June 18.
“At that time, we are planning to have a watershed master study update, and that’s regarding drainage. We do want to give council an update on where we stand at that particular point in time,” Chavez said.
“The streets department is continuing to work at the Joe Ramos Center. They are preparing the parking lot for the upcoming Fourth of July activities,” the interim city manager added.
Chavez then recognized city employees who have worked for the city for 20 years or more.
He said, “As I like to do at the second meeting of every month, I want to recognize all the city employees that have completed 20-plus years of service to the city of Del Rio.
“Celebrating 21 years of service, Sylvia Garza Castillo, finance specialist; celebrating 22 years of service, Jose Hidalgo, heavy equipment operator, from the gas department; celebrating 24 years of service, Juan Pablo Lopez, purchasing warehouse attendant; celebrating 27 years of service, Lt. Edward Cruz, Del Rio Fire Department; celebrating 27 years of service, Lt. Daniel Patino III, Del Rio Fire Department; and celebrating 33 years of service, Mike Flores, traffic division technician,” Chavez announced.
The long-time employees were each presented with a certificate of appreciation and a city of Del Rio pin, and Chavez led council members and audience members in a round of applause.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
