By Louis Zylka
The 830Times
Val Verde County Commissioners Court members recently approved funds to support Fiesta de Amistad activities for 2024.
Commissioners court members discussed providing hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds to the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC) at the court’s Sept. 11 regular meeting. The HOT funds will help the IGNC with the Fiesta de Amistad events for 2024.
The annual Fiesta events are hosted by IGNC and are set to begin on Oct. 4 and continue to Oct. 27, ending with the annual parade. The events celebrate the unity and friendship between Del Rio and its sister city, Ciudad Acuña, Coah., Mexico.
Andrew Scarbo, president of the International Good Neighbor Council (IGNC), attended the Sept. 11 meeting to thank the court for its consideration of the funding request.
“I wanted to extend gratitude to all of you for always being there for IGNC last year. You all were there for (giving us) HOT funds, and, of course, we are on the agenda today for HOT funds.
“I just wanted to, once again, dearly thank you for those funds. It does help us during the Fiesta de Amistad activities. It is something the city gives us, and now it is something the county has given us, so we are really appreciative of it.
“We also want to extend gratitude towards County Commissioner Pct. 2 (Juan Carlos) Vazquez, who is going to be the Grand Marshal for the Fiesta de Amistad parade,” Scarbo said before returning to his seat.
Val Verde County Judge Lewis G. Owens then called for discussion of the funding request by the court. “Last year we ended up giving the $10,000 (to IGNC). They did submit the (proper) paperwork to receive it,” Owens said.
County Commissioner Pct. 3 Beau Nettleton made the motion to approve the action, and County Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores gave the second.
Flores asked how much HOT funds the city contributes to the IGNC for the Fiesta activities. Scarbo came back to the podium and said, “The city gives us the same, $10,000.”
Owens asked which other groups also help the IGNC with the Fiesta de Amistad events.
“Funding-wise, just the city and the county help with HOT funds,” Scarbo replied.
The court unanimously approved the item.
