By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
All five members of commissioners court were present.
Court hears presentation on landowner compensation program
• Commissioners court members listened to a presentation by James Cave on the
landowner compensation assistance program being offered through the Texas Attorney
General’s Office. The program is being made available to landowners in Texas border
counties who have suffered financial losses due to damage on their properties as a result
of persons who illegally entered the country and made their way across those properties.
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. assured Cave and his team that more information
about the program would be disseminated in the community, including on the county web
site.
Court holds public hearing on grant for Cienegas Road sidewalk
• Commissioners court held a public hearing to receive comments on a Texas Department
of Transportation (TxDOT) grant the county is seeking for the construction of a sidewalk
along Cienegas Road from the city limits to Owens Drive. Carl Esser, the county’s grants
administrator, told the court he had received emails in favor of the sidewalk project from
the businesses XPO and Piston Interiors, which are located along Cienegas Road. The
court also heard comments from a representative of Howmet Aerospace, also located
along the road, as well as from three citizens who live in the area. All spoke in favor of
the project.
Court approves resolution and letter of support for sidewalk project
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to approve a resolution of support for Val Verde
County’s application to TxDOT for the 2025 Transportation Alternatives Set-Aside
Program to be used for a sidewalk along Cienegas Road. The court also voted 5-0 to
approve a letter of support for the sidewalk project, which, if funded, will involve the
construction of 11,000 linear feet of concrete sidewalks and ADA-compliant pedestrian
ramps along Cienegas Road from the city limits to Owens Drive. The letter of support
reads that the court believes the project will “enhance quality of life and promote safety”
in the area.
Court approves trio of action on Robert “Bob” Chavira Sports Complex
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 on three separate actions dealing with
environmental documents for the planned Robert “Bob” Chavira Sports Complex. The
court first voted 5-0 to approve an environmental review record for the project, then
voted 5-0 to authorize County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. to sign the environmental
assessment for the sports complex. The complex will be located off the 700 block of East
De La Rosa Street north of U.S. Highway 90 near the Del Rio Middle School.
Construction of the complex will be funded using a $2 million federal grant, as well as
county funds. Finally, the court voted 5-0 on a “Finding of No Significant Impact” and
“Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds.” The notice will be posted on the
courthouse announcement board and on the county’s web site and allows the public an
18-day comment period on the project.
Court hears presentation on county’s annual comprehensive financial report
• Commissioners court members heard a presentation on the county’s annual
comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024, from Alfredo
Vara of Cascos & Associates, PC, a certified public accounting firm. The report was
overwhelmingly favorable, with the CPAs telling the county, “Val Verde County has
earned unmodified opinions (clean opinions) on the basic financial statements, as well as
on the internal controls over financial reporting and on compliance for each major
program. Unmodified opinions are the most favorable opinions an entity can receive
from an independent accounting firm.”
Court approves investigating possibility of position to do inquests
• Commissioners court voted 4-1, with County Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus”
Flores opposed, to look into creating a position to do inquests. County Attorney David
Martinez said state law allows commissioners courts to create a position called “office of
death investigator,” whose sole purpose is to assist a county’s justices of the peace to do
the investigative portion of the inquest, to go to the scene of the death, to determine cause
and time of death “and that would relieve the justices of the peace from having to go out
there.” Flores noted the justices aren’t called out that often, and Martinez said the court
would determine whether the position would be full-time, part-time or on a contract
basis. Flores made a motion to table the item, but did not have a second; then the court
voted to continue investigating the possibility of creating such a position.
Court discusses fees and fines owed to Val Verde County
• Commissioners court discussed, but took no action on, the large numbers of fines and
fees that are owed to Val Verde County. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said County
Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia met with the county’s justices of the peace to find
out about the unpaid fines and fees. In Garcia’s Precinct 3 those unpaid fines and fees
total slightly more than $1.6 million. Owens said the four county constables are working
with the JPs to review the 50 most current cases and “will begin knocking on doors.”
Owens also said at some point, the county may resort to publicly publishing the names of
those persons who have not paid assessed fines and fees on the completion of their court
cases. His advice: If you’ve received a citation, have been fined or owe the county a fee,
go in and pay it.
Court accepts donation for county library
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to accept a donation of $10,000 from Maria I. Barker in
memory of Jay Martin Barker. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. asked County Attorney
David Martinez and County Auditor Matthew Weingardt to meet with County Library
Director David Bond to make sure the funds can be spent on the items the donor has
requested they be spent on.
Court votes to re-advertise for bids for construction of event center pad
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to reject all bids received and to re-advertise for bids for
the construction of a concrete pad for a new event center to be located at the Val Verde
County Fairgrounds. County Purchasing Agent Melissa Vasquez told the court that two
of the bidders who submitted bids for the construction of the event center pad did not turn
in a bid bond, including the lowest of the three bids received. The third bidder, she said,
also forgot to turn in some required forms. The court voted to re-advertise since all of the
bidders were missing documentation.
Court awards bid for construction of pad for new fire station
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to award a bid for the construction of a pad for a new
fire station to Jess Contracting LLC of Del Rio. County Purchasing Agent Melissa
Vasquez said Jess Contracting submitted the lowest of the four bids received for the job.
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said the county isn’t yet sure of the exact location of
the new fire station, adding that once work on the new target range is started, the county
will have a better idea of where the fire station will be sited.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
