By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. gave an update on several ongoing county projects
during the most recent meeting of county commissioners court on April 23.
Owens began by speaking about the Escondido Estates water line project. He said the
overall purpose of the current work in Escondido Estates, which is a semi-rural area east
of Laughlin Air Force Base south of U.S. Highway 90, is increasing the water pressure
and volume to existing fire hydrants.
Owens said the county went out for bids on the project, and the bids that came back in
were “too high,” much more than the money the county has set aside for the project.
He said the county is now working with several companies to create plans that are closer
in price to the amount the county has set aside. Owens said the county is working with
companies that are part of a “buyboard,” a statewide cooperative purchasing program.
Owens said the county is also working to get “three-phase power” to Escondido Estates.
During the meeting, the county judge said, “One of the hurdles we were going to have to
jump on this one was they needed three-phase power out there for the size of the (water)
pump. We were going to try to go through the base, which is nearly impossible, so there’s
a landowner out there who just bought some property across (Highway) 90 from the base,
and we’re working on trying to get an easement through his property to run power lines,
underground.”
Next, the county judge spoke about a flood map being created by a firm of consulting
engineers for the city for an area north of Walmart.
Owens said, “On the 20 acres and the 60 acres between Walmart and the Del Rio Hedges
(subdivision), the city had allowed some drainage canals to be put in there.
Commissioner (Pct. 2 Juan Carlos) Vazquez is working on a low-water crossing on
Lausen (Road) and the (drainage) ditch there on Lausen, so we met with the city and we
were working on flood maps. (County Engineer) Carlos (Velarde) had already taken
elevations with drones, and those elevations have been given to the city to see what
action they’re going to want to take.”
Owens said work also continues on a planned new target range for the county, which was
addressed in separate agenda items during the meeting.
The county judge next spoke about a project to reconstruct Cienegas Road.
Owens said the city is planning to place a major new sewer trunk line in the area, and the
county is waiting to see where exactly that line will run.
The county judge also noted that Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores had an item
on the court’s agenda to discuss sidewalks for Cienegas Road.
Owens said, “Commissioner Flores has an item on here to talk about sidewalks. We’d
applied for a $980,000 grant through the state. We’ve done that. We passed the first
round (of the grant application process). We had a meeting with them – Commissioner
Flores, Carl Esser, Carlos Velarde and myself. It passed the first go-round and actually
made it to the second step.
“So we’re dealing with that. They’ve asked for a little bit more information, and it’s been
presented, so (the grant is for) a sidewalk (along) Cienegas Road, from where the city
limits end all the way to the Duck Pond. It would be a sidewalk and curb and gutter, so
we’re waiting on that grant,” Owens said.
Flores asked if the sidewalk grant was federally-funded or funded by the state, and
Owens replied the funds are federal monies that would be administered through the Texas
Department of Transportation.
Owens also addressed a planned event center to be built at the county fairgrounds off
North Main Street.
He said the county is waiting on plans for the events center to give them to Commissioner
Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw.
“I know the fairgrounds committee is interested in looking at the plans. As soon as we get
the plans, we’ll get them to you all,” Owens told Wardlaw.
Owens then spoke about plans to build a new county fire station north of the Del Rio city
limits.
Owens said, “. . . the fire station will be built on (Highways) 277/377 right past the ‘Y,’
either in the Precinct 3 yard or across the street on city property, but it will be in that
area.”
Owens also spoke about a planned remodeling of the county tax assessor collector’s
office.
“(County Tax Assessor Collector) Mrs. (Elodia) Garcia wants to rearrange the office
there to where we have 12 stations and every station will be able to do taxes or vehicle
registrations, so that’s in the works,” Owens said.
He said the tax assessor collector’s office has busy times for property taxes and busy
times for vehicle registrations. and the new configuration will allow any clerk in the
office to assist customers in either area.
Owens told The 830 Times after the meeting the remodeling will be done in-house and
will involve the county’s information technology department.
“We are not tearing down walls. We will be adding counter area,” Owens said.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
