By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City and county leaders need to sit down together and talk about the city’s plans to build
a second international bridge, Mayor Al Arreola told members of the city’s international
bridge board last week.
Arreola, who chairs the board, made his comments during its regular meeting on March
25.
Arreola began his statements by referencing an action that had been taken by Val Verde
County Commissioners Court the previous day to seek a countywide referendum on the
planned second international bridge and where it should be located. See story here.
Arreola told bridge board members, “I think there were some motions on the county side
yesterday (March 24). I think from my part and the (city) council and this (board), we
will continue to have a communication with the county, with the county commissioners,
county judge. That is one of the key things that is going to drive our city.
“This is not a city thing. It’s a county and city (thing). The bridge, the second bridge, is a
county and city (thing). It’s not just the city. There were some things done yesterday by
the county, and I understand that,” the mayor said.
Arreola went on: “Everybody has to put their perspective of what they feel they have to
do, but I think at the end of the day, from the city side, we will continue corroborating,
communicating with the county.
“I think there are a lot of things that need to be done in perspective, set a committee
together, so we can all come back to the table and all agree, what is the benefit of the
second international bridge. I think in the last couple of sessions, this (board) approved
$25,000 for actually promoting what’s the benefit (of) our second international bridge.
“I think that was one of the lack of things that we have done in the past, we say things,
but we don’t put it out so everybody understands the whys, and this is what we’re doing
now,” he said.
Arreola then reiterated his belief that city and county officials need to meet and talk about
the bridge plans.
He said, “Whatever was said, was said, everything has to come back to the table as
professionals. We were elected by the citizens overall, so we have to come back to the
table. It is not a personality (thing), ‘I don’t like you; you don’t like me. I’m not going to
sit with you.’ It doesn’t matter. We still have to come back to this table. If it’s here or at
the county or wherever is a neutral site for us to negotiate and put the perspective of our
community forward.
“One of the things that I believe, and I haven’t discussed it with the (board) yet, we still
have a golden egg, which is our international bridge. There’s still something that we can
come together on that, too. This bridge has given us a good revenue and it continues that.
“There’s always going to be discussion. Eagle Pass is going through that. Laredo is going
through that, so this is where we’re at, so I’m going to finalize it by saying, we’re going
to go back to the table with the county, regardless of what’s been said out there, and I
think if we can come back to the table, we can come to an agreement,” Arreola said.
Arreola then invited the other board members to comment.
Board member Seferino Gomez III said he had a comment, but would like to make it as
part of another agenda item later in the meeting.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
