By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of Val Verde County Commissioners Court were present.
Court approves HOT funds for Rotary Independence Day rodeo
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve $6,000 in county hotel occupancy tax (HOT) funds requested by the Rotary Club of Del Rio Foundation Inc. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. told the court the county has a total of $50,000 in HOT funds available and noted the court has already approved and will pay out $4,800 for the upcoming George Paul Memorial Bull Riding event, adding “there are enough funds” for the Rotary Foundation’s request. Answering a question from Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw, Owens said the funds would be used for the Rotary Club’s annual Independence Day Rodeo.
Court approves increase in hotel rate for trip
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve the amount Owens and Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez can spend on hotel rooms for an upcoming trip to Austin. Owens said the county currently pays $150 for motel rooms booked for county staff traveling on official business and up to $380 per night for rooms in Austin or Washington, D.C., for “Val Verde County Days” lobbying and advocacy trips. Owens told the court he and the sheriff will be traveling to Austin in May, and the room rates that have been quoted are between $250 and $260 per night. The court approved for the judge and sheriff to spend up to $250 per night.
Court approves installation of speed limit signs
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve the installation of two 30 mile-per-hour speed limit signs on old U.S. Highway 90 West leading to the village on Comstock in central Val Verde County. Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia, who had requested the installation, told the court the signs would be placed “to improve traffic safety.”
Court approves installation of guardrails at Comstock school
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve a request by Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia to install guardrails at the Comstock Independent School District. Garcia told the court he had spoken with the CISD superintendent, who had initially said he wanted to wait until school was out in June before placing the guardrails. Garcia said the guardrails will be placed outside a playground adjacent to the school to keep people from driving through it.
Court rebuffs another attempt to install new streetlights along Cienegas Road
Commissioners court members voted 2-3 on a motion from Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores to approve the installation of six LED streetlights along a portion of Cienegas Road. The court previously voted against Flores’ request. Flores said he has received letters of support from the school district, law enforcement and tenants of the Del Rio Industrial Park and told the court the new lights are needed for public safety. Owens gave the second to Flores’ motion, and Commissioners Kerr Wardlaw, Juan Carlos Vazquez and Fernando Garcia voted against the motion.
Court approves requests from sheriff’s office
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve a slate of requests from Martinez, including authorizing Martinez and Owens to sign the renewal of the Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) Program application and related certifications. The court also authorized the sheriff to accept surplus property from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), issue a county credit card and county cell phone to VVSO Sgt. Yesenia Flores, and create a digital evidence clerk position with a salary of $35,000 annually to be paid from SB22 funds.
Court accepts donations for fire department, county library
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to accept a donation of $1,000 from Juan F. Lopez to the Val Verde County Fire Department. The court also accepted donations of $50 from the New Century Club and $30 from the Fine Arts of Brackettville to the Val Verde County Library in memory of Jerry Grabeklis.
Court approves change order for new fire station
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to ratify change order No. 1 with JESS Contracting in the amount of $2,500 for the excavation of an additional 18 inches for the front beam at the site of the new fire station. The funds will come from the fire station account.
Court approves contract award for San Felipe Pastures project
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to award a contract to Alvin E. Stock Contractors of Eagle Pass in the amount of $782,020 for the San Felipe Pastures Booster Station project and to authorize Owens to execute the contract following review and approval by the county attorney. Owens said the contract is for the design and construction of the booster station and added the project is expected to help the county as it pursues a similar project in the Escondido Estates Colonia east of Laughlin Air Force Base. Funding will come from grant monies and 2023 Tax Note funds.
Court delays hiring of new veterans service officer
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to postpone a decision on hiring a new county veterans service officer for two weeks to allow commissioners to interview additional applicants and re-interview top candidates. Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez, who made the motion, said he would like the court to make a selection at its next meeting.
Court allows county judge to move ahead with advocacy group hiring
Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to authorize Owens to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the city of Del Rio and the San Felipe Del Rio Consolidated Independent School District on hiring an advocacy group or groups for state and federal project advocacy and lobbying.
County judge announces unveiling of District Judge Henry Fernandez portrait
Owens announced a ceremony Friday to unveil a portrait of the late 63rd District Judge Enrique “Henry” Fernandez. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the second-floor courtroom at the Val Verde County Judicial Center, 100 E. Broadway St. Several judges, District Attorney Suzanne West, former District Attorneys Fred Hernandez and Michael Bagley, County Attorney David Martinez and local attorneys are expected to speak before a family address by Roberto “Bobby” Fernandez and the unveiling at noon.
