By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Tempers flared during the most recent county commissioners court meeting over a request by one commissioner to place a new streetlight in his precinct.
The spat came during the court’s October regular term meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and centered on a request by Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores to install at least one new streetlight along Cienegas Road. Flores has requested the installation of streetlights along a section of Cienegas Road, from Basse Road to the Duck Pond, since February.
His requests have been repeatedly rebuffed. Other members of the court have either not seconded Flores’ motion to approve the streetlight request or have voted against it.
Just before the squabble, County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. read the heading of the agenda item: “Discussion and possible action to approve the installation of one LED streetlight including necessary hardware and infrastructure and to authorize county judge to execute the AEP Texas CIAC agreement. The expense will be funded through Precinct 4’s operating budget in the total amount of $151.21.”
As Owens read the heading of the agenda item, Flores called out a motion to approve the item. Owens called for a second, and hearing none, said he would second the item.
Owens then said, “All those in favor?”
Flores and Owens voted in favor of the motion, and Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw, Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez and Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia voted against the motion.
Owens said, “Motion fails, two to three.”
After the vote, Flores asked to make a comment, and Owens said, “You can make a comment.”
Flores said, “We just approved a light for Precinct 3 that’s equivalent to five lights for Precinct 4, for the amount of $151. I just can’t see this commissioner (Garcia) not approving this one light.”
Garcia said, “I’ll respond.”
Flores said, “Well respond. Respond. Go ahead.”
Garcia said, “It’s real simple. I don’t own any land near . . .”
Flores interrupted, saying, “No, sir; no, sir;” attempted to say something else, and Garcia raised his voice, saying, “I didn’t interrupt you. You need to be quiet and allow me to speak.”
“No, no, no, you’re wrong,” Flores said.
As the two commissioners raised their voices, Owens got out of his seat and stood in the area between the two commissioners’ seats.
Owens said, “Just wait,” paused, then added, “I jumped in right now when you were talking. I shouldn’t have done it. We need to have a little respect.”
Garcia said, “Well he needs to have respect also, because he’s really good at interrupting. . .”
“One at a time,” Owens said.
“I was speaking, and he interrupted,” Garcia added.
Owens told Garcia, “You go ahead.”
“It’s real simple,” Garcia continued, “I told you many times that I would vote for your lights if you would be willing to . . .”
“No, no, no,” Flores interjected.
“He’s interrupting again,” Garcia said, his voice rising.
To Flores, Garcia said sharply, “You need to learn decorum, sir. You’ve been here long enough that you should understand. . .”
Flores retorted, “No, no. You’re a walking quorum. You guys are a walking quorum.”
Owens said, “Wait. Wait. You guys are arguing for no reason, okay? It’s just differences of opinion.”
To Garcia, Owens said, “Finish what you were going to say.”
Garcia said, “It’s real simple. I do not own any land near this light that I am asking for. I have told you many times. I even made a motion to approve five of your lights if you were willing to put up lights in front of your own property, and you voted against it. Then you have the audacity to argue and fight, okay? It’s real simple. You are voting to put a light in front of your own property for your benefit.
“I have told you. I have a problem with that. I will not support that, and I’ve been voting the same way since February so there shouldn’t be any confusion as to what anybody here thinks, and if you don’t understand that, I apologize,” Garcia added.
Owens said, “This light here is not in front of his property.”
“It is,” Garcia retorted. “I’ve seen the map. He had where his subdivision is subdivided, and there’s three additional lots, and it’s diagonal right in front of his property.”
Owens said he would bring a map to the next meeting, then reiterated, “This light is not in front of his property. I’m going to do something else. This light is listed as (being) in (my) subdivision, Los Patos Subdivision, I paid for either three or four lights. This one is in front of one of the lots. If AEP recommends that this lot, if AEP recommends that this light needs to be put up, because it was missed when I did my subdivision, I’m going to bring it back, and I will pay for the light, like I did for the other three or four lights. AEP needs to tell me that it’s necessary because of the subdivision, okay? And I’m going to bring it back,” Owens said.
Flores said, “But it is past my property. (Garcia) is incorrect, and you need to check before you start talking about me.”
“It’s okay. They’re just opinions,” Owens said.
Flores went on, “No, no, I think he’s full of shit. He is. He’s one of my haters. That’s fine. I’m going to make it public.”
Garcia said, “Nice language.”
Owens interjected, “Let’s do this. Let’s not, I come unglued in here, and I try real hard not to, with cursing, with cussing at y’all, and I would greatly appreciate it if we would keep that part to ourselves, and not for the general public.”
“The people need to know who they are,” Flores said.
Owens responded, “No, no, no, and the people do know who we are, bad or good, and I’d greatly appreciate it, when we (have) comments like that, we keep them to ourselves.”
At this point, County Attorney David Martinez called out, “Point of order, judge. It’s already been acted on. We need to move on.”
Owens replied, “And I am. And I appreciate it, David. But those comments are not necessary amongst ourselves, here, for the general public. If y’all want to have that outside.”
Wardlaw said there was no location given for the light that was the subject of the agenda item.
Owens said, “We’re going to move on,” then added, “Okay. Vote failed.”
He then began reading the heading of the next agenda item.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
