By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of county commissioners court were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Citizens address court about library transgender display
— Four area residents – Miguel Garcia, Vanessa Salinas, Robin Palmer and Ruben
Bustamante – spoke to commissioners court during the Citizen Comments portion of the
agenda to express their disapproval over the removal of a display at the Val Verde County
Library. The display, placed to commemorate transgender persons who lost their lives
through murder or suicide, was taken down after complaints. All four speakers expressed
their sadness and dismay at the removal of the exhibit and urged the court to show more
empathy to all citizens.
Court approves application for two grants
— Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to allow County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. to
apply for two grants to further county projects.
Court considers naming of county fire station, target range
— Commissioners court members discussed, but took no action on, naming of two new
county facilities that will be built over the next year, the new county fire station and the
new indoor county target range. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said he would like the
court to consider naming the new county fire station after the late Jerry Rust, who served
for many years as the first chief of the county fire department. Owens also said he would
like to hear commissioners’ suggestions for naming the target range. The court took no
action on naming the two facilities, and Owens said the issue would be discussed again at
a future meeting.
Court approves use of Tony Faz Annex office for Amistad PTSD Awareness
— Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to authorize Amistad PTSD Awareness, a local
non-profit organization, to use a portion of the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz County Annex
Building for biweekly meetings. Each meeting last about an hour, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
on Mondays. Former Del Rio Mayor Bruno Lozano, who currently serves as president of
the organization, spoke to the court, noting that the organization serves as a support group for area veterans and law enforcement personnel dealing with post-traumatic stress
disorder.
Court approves acceptance of state grant for county attorney’s office
— Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to authorize County Attorney David Martinez
to accept the 2025-2026 Rural Prosecutor Grant in the amount of $175,000 under Senate
Bill 22 for the county attorney’s office.
Court hears report on results of election audit
— Commissioners court took no action after hearing a report on the results of the post-
election hand count audit for the constitutional amendment and joint election held Nov. 4.
Cynthia Reyes, assistant chief deputy county clerk, spoke to the court about the audit,
which she said was conducted by representatives of the Texas Secretary of State’s office.
Reyes said the post-election hand count is mandated by the state and told the court it is a
way for the state to determine if the voting machines used by the county are reliable and
accurate. Reyes said early votes for three amendments, three precincts’ absentee ballots
and ballots cast at three Election Day polling locations were hand counted by the Early
Voting Ballot Board. “It came out perfectly,” Reyes told the court.
Court approves resolution approving joint primary elections for March 3, 2026
— Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve a resolution for the Val Verde
County Clerk’s Office to enter into contracts with the Val Verde County Republican Party
and the Val Verde County Democratic Party to conduct the parties’ primary elections on
March 3, 2026.
Court approves contract with city for May 2026 elections
— Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve an election services contract
between the county and the city of Del Rio to allow the Val Verde County Clerk’s Office
to conduct the city election on May 2, 2026.
Court approves removing Precinct 21 polling location from Tony Faz Annex
— Commissioners court members voted 5-0 not to use the Tony Faz Annex as a polling
location for Precinct 21 during the March 3, 2026 primary elections. Cynthia Reyes,
assistant chief deputy county clerk, told the court the annex building was used as a sixth
polling location for the most recent Nov. 4 election. Reyes said the county clerk’s office
“is spread very thin” with election workers and mentioned only 49 persons cast their
ballots at the location on Election Day. She said the county clerk’s office
recommendation was that the site not be used as a polling location for the March primary
elections. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said the court could re-examine using the
site in the future.
Court hears report on adding an ADA voter accessible location at church polling site
— Commissioners court members took no action after hearing a report from County Clerk
Teresa Esther Chapoy and Cynthia Reyes, assistant chief deputy county clerk, on
problems with ADA-accessibility in a portion of the Northside Baptist Church on
Amistad Boulevard, which is used as an Election Day polling location for Precincts 30,
31 and 33. Reyes said the clerk’s office is suggesting using two different sites on the
church property. She said the church’s Fellowship Hall could be used as a site for voters
who are not disabled, and a location on the other side of the church will be used for
voters with mobility issues. Chapoy told the court both the Texas Secretary of State’s
office and church leadership have given their blessings for the plan.
Court discusses payment for election workers
— Commissioners court members took no action on the payment of election workers for
next year’s primary elections. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. noted currently election
clerks are paid $15 an hour, with $12 an hour of that amount reimbursed by the state. He
said the $3 difference in the past has been billed and split between the Val Verde County
Democratic and Republican Parties. Cynthia Reyes, assistant chief deputy county clerk,
told the court the Val Verde County Republican Party has paid for its share of the cost of
paying election clerks, but confirmed that the Val Verde County Democratic Party has not
and currently owes the county $1,400. Reyes also told the court both party chairs have
informed her they do not have enough money to pay those bills for the upcoming 2026
primaries. Chapoy later said the parties typically hold fundraisers to cover the cost of
paying clerks.
Court approves purchase of grapple truck
— Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve the purchase of a Mack MD7
grapple truck from Volvo & Mack Trucks of Waco, Texas, for $210,641. The
procurement was made through a co-op contract, and the grapple truck was purchased for
Precinct 3.
Commissioners announce upcoming events
— Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez announced there will be a groundbreaking
ceremony for the Robert “Bob” Chavira County Sports Complex near the Del Rio Middle
School at 720 E. De La Rosa St. at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 16. County Judge Lewis G.
Owens Jr. also announced the county will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the
county’s new north side fire station off U.S. Highway 90 at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
