By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of commissioners court were present Wednesday. Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Court hears update on grant for county public defenders office
• Commissioners court members heard an update on efforts to secure grant funds to
establish a county public defenders office from James McDermott, chief public defender
of the Far West Texas Regional Public Defenders Office in Alpine. McDermott told the
court he has been working with County Attorney David Martinez and the county’s
elected representatives in the Texas Legislature to secure a grant from the state for a local
public defenders office. McDermott said the county will be notified in late June if the
grant will be funded and if the grant is funded, the money will become available in
October. The court took no action following the presentation.
Court approves appointment of John Randel Dissler as Pct. 2 Justice of the Peace
• Commissioners court voted 4-1 to appoint John Randel Dissler as Precinct 2 Justice of
the Peace to succeed the late JP2 Antonio “Tony” Faz III, who died in April. Dissler, a
native of the county, owns and operates a well-drilling service here and was one of five
people who applied to fulfill Faz’s unexpired term. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr.
was the only member of the court who voted against Dissler’s appointment, saying that
the county had already paid to train George Salinas, appointed by the court to serve in
Faz’s place when Faz became ill.
Court seeks comment on Vega Verde water line extension project
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to approve an affidavit posting notice of a “Finding of
No Significant Impact” and a “Notice of Intent to Request the Release of Funds” in the
county courthouse for a Community Development Block Grant for Vega Verde Road
Colonia water improvements. The notice allows the public to comment on the project,
with the comment deadline set for May 27. The funds will allow the county to proceed
with work on the installation of 8,360 linear feet of “water lines, fire hydrants, gate
valves and all associated appurtenances” for first-time water service to 26 households
from 7117 Vega Verde Road to 8437 Vega Verde Road.
Court approves exchange of properties with the city of Del Rio
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to approve a property swap between the city of Del Rio
and Val Verde County to be entered into the deed of records. County Judge Lewis G.
Owens Jr. said the county traded a property adjacent to the Bank & Trust Field off Ogden
Street in exchange for some tracts of land off Brodbent Avenue near the Jesse Cardenas
Park and near the San Felipe Cemetery.
Court approves expenditure of HOT funds for Little League tournament
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to approve the expenditure of $3,180 in hotel
occupancy tax (HOT) funds requested by Pat Rodriguez, district administrator for the
Texas West District 35 Little League. Rodriguez requested the funds to help pay for
expenses incurred as part of the Texas West District 35 District Tournament.
Court schedules public hearing on sidewalk grant for Cienegas Road
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to schedule a public hearing to receive comments in
regards to the Texas Department of Public Transportation 2025 Alternative Projects,
Cienegas Terrace Colonia Pedestrian Improvements. The proposed project “entails the
construction of approximately 11,000 linear feet of concrete sidewalks and ADA-
compliant pedestrian ramps along Cienegas Road” from the city limits sign to Owens
Drive. The public hearing is scheduled for 9:10 a.m. on June 4, during the commissioners
court’s first June regular term meeting.
Court approves public use hours for proposed new target range
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to set public use hours at the new target range the
county is planning to build adjacent to the Precinct 3 yard north of the Del Rio city limits.
The court voted to set the hours of public use at 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday
and Friday and to charge members of the public $10 an hour to use the range. The court
noted that 9mm will be the largest caliber firearm allowed on the range. County crews are
currently in the process of clearing the land where the range will be sited.
Court approves expansion of adult probation building
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to advertise for bids for the expansion of the building
housing the county’s adult probation department. The court voted that the funds to be
used to pay for the expansion of the building will come from the county’s Operation Lone Star grant, which is underwritten by the state.
Court approves purchase box fans for citizens
Commissioners court voted 5-0 to purchase 500 box fans to be distributed to Val Verde
County citizens who need them as the area begins to experience summer temperatures.
Each commissioner will receive 125 box fans to distribute in his precinct.
Court votes to approve donation from school district
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to authorize Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez
to accept the donation of classroom furniture, including bookshelves, desks, chairs, tables
and other items, from the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District.
Court eyes moving Precinct 21 voting to Judge Antonio Faz Annex
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to investigate the possibility of moving the county’s
precinct 21 polling location to the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz III Annex on East Chapoy
Street. The approval is contingent on the county’s election equipment working at the new
site. County voting precincts 20, 22, 23 and 24 will continue to vote at the Del Rio Civic
Center.
Court appoints evaluation committee to score RFPs for target range facility
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to appoint County Purchasing Agent Melissa Vasquez,
County Engineer Carlos Velarde and Assistant County Attorney Omar Fuentes to a
committee to evaluate and score the proposals the county receives for the construction of
a planned target/gun range facility adjacent to the Precinct 3 yard north of the Del Rio
city limits.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
