By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
A Del Rio resident on Tuesday thanked city council members for lighting up Plaza Avenue in south Del Rio, a completed project that will be celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event next week.
Del Rioan Lucia Rodarte, who identified herself to the council as a member of the Cafeteria Workers Association and a leader of The Border Organization, spoke to the council during the citizen comments portion of the meeting.
Rodarte addressed the council in Spanish, and her remarks were translated into English by Karen Gonzalez, also of The Border Organization.
Rodarte told the council, “I came this evening to thank you all for putting 18 lights on nine blocks of Plaza Avenue. The Border Organization had presented this issue to Mr. (Scot) Carcasi and council members a few months back.
“While we know that nothing in the city happens without council approval, we want to thank everyone who had a hand in fixing this issue. I had 10 years of living in the San Felipe area without light, and I finally feel secure going on evening walks. Thank you very much,” Rodarte said.
City council members voted in April to approve a resolution authorizing and directing then-Interim City Manager Manuel Chavez to procure solar lighting in the amount of $355,133.33 from Elliot Electric Supply through a buy board contract.
The solar lighting purchased by the city would be used along Plaza Avenue and at the William S. Nixon Recreation Complex, formerly known as the Field of Our Dreams.
The installation of the solar lights along Plaza Avenue has been completed, and the city will host a “Light Up Plaza Avenue” ribbon-cutting event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, at the intersection of Plaza Avenue and De La Rosa Street.
The public, especially residents of Plaza Avenue and the surrounding neighborhood, are encouraged to attend this free event.
A city flyer on the ceremony reads, “We encourage you to join us for a brief ceremony and take the opportunity to enjoy a fun neighborhood walk, bike ride or skate down Plaza Avenue. Light refreshments will be served.”
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
