By Louis Zylka
The 830 Times
A divided city council has approved the purchase of land and a building on Hernandez Street in south Del Rio at a recent meeting.
City council members approved the purchase of the property on a 4-3 vote. The property is located at 500 Hernandez St., and is currently owned by the Archdiocese of San Antonio, which has agreed to sell it to the city for $560,000.
Mayor Pro-tem Steve Webb made the motion to approve the ordinance directing City Manager John Sheedy to move ahead with the purchase of the property, with Councilman J.P. Sanchez giving the second.
Sheedy, who recommended the purchase of the property, initially told the council he envisioned renovating and improving the building and grounds to consolidate the city’s public works department in one location.
Sheedy told the council he believes this is a good opportunity to acquire the property and have it available for the city to use. He said there has been discussion to add live oak trees, streetlights and traffic control devices in and around the property.
“If the council allows it, we will absolutely have a need for the property. I just don’t think we will get anything like it for this price again,” Sheedy said.
Sheedy reiterated his first plan is to use the facility as a new public works complex for housing operations and equipment for the public works department, which now is in separate locations across the city.
Finance Director Alberta S. Barrett said once the purchase goes through, the city will hire an architect to give an estimate of the work and costs of remodeling the facility. She said remodeling the facility will likely cost several million dollars and has not yet been budgeted.
Mayor Al Arreola said he was not in favor of buying the property unless it can be used for a specific community purpose. He said the people in the neighborhood around the property had spoken to him and are against using the property to store city equipment.
“The facility can be used for other purposes. I am committed to the citizens of Del Rio, and I am also committed to the (city) employees, but for me to support (this purchase), it has to be used for something different,” Arreola said.
Sanchez noted the city would be saving a lot of money if it buys the property now. He said the price for the building and the property together would normally be twice as much.
“We should work with an architectural firm to see what we should do to update it for our needs. We can’t be too extravagant about it, and we need to put a dollar amount on it, and make sure the architects adhere to it,” Sanchez said.
After additional discussion, Sanchez, Webb, Councilman Jim DeReus and Councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon voted in favor of the motion to approve the ordinance to purchase the property. Arreola, Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. and Councilwoman Ernestina “Tina” Martinez voted against the motion.
