By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of the Val Verde County Commissioners Court were present for the meeting. Here’s a look at what happened.
Court hears from county property owners about transmission line
Several Val Verde County property owners attended the meeting to urge the court to oppose the placement of a large electrical transmission line through their properties.
Del Rio attorney and county property owner Byron Hodge told the court the placement of the transmission line would damage the “pristine” landscapes in central and northern parts of the county. Hodge said the highest value of the properties in those areas is their “uninhabited” aspect, which makes them particularly prized by lovers of the outdoors, hunters, fishers and backcountry hikers.
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said the court will prepare and pass a resolution opposing the placement of the transmission line.
County approves development of medical clinic in Tony Faz County Annex
County commissioners voted 5-0 to begin the process of working toward establishing a community medical clinic at the Judge Antonio “Tony” Faz County Annex on East Chapoy Street.
Jorge Jurado, chief executive officer of Val Verde Regional Medical Center, spoke to the court about his vision of bringing additional and diverse medical capabilities to the county. Jurado said leadership at Val Verde Regional Medical Center is continually working to expand medical services available in the community and said he would like to establish a primary care clinic at the Tony Faz Annex.
Jurado said it will take about six months for the clinic to receive accreditation as a rural health clinic.
Court approves letter for museum to obtain beer and wine license
Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve a letter allowing the Whitehead Memorial Museum to obtain permission from the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission to sell beer and wine on the museum grounds during its annual Cajun Fest fundraiser.
The event is scheduled from 9 a.m. Friday, April 3, through 11:59 p.m. Saturday, April 4.
Court okays HOT funds for Brown Plaza festivals
Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the expenditure of county hotel occupancy tax funds requested by the Brown Plaza Association.
The association requested $4,500 to help fund its Cinco de Mayo festivities in early May and $4,500 to help fund its Diez y Seis de Septiembre gala in mid-September.
Court votes to seek grant for Comstock park
Commissioners voted 5-0 to apply for a grant through the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for the creation of a county park in the town of Comstock, located in Precinct 3.
Court approves funds for portrait ceremony
Commissioners voted 5-0 to appropriate $1,200 from contingency funds for the Judge Enrique “Henry” Fernandez Portrait Ceremony.
The ceremony will be held April 24 in the second-floor courtroom at the Val Verde County Judicial Center, 100 E. Broadway St.
Court discusses ongoing problems with registered voter rolls
Commissioners voted 5-0 to give a list of names to County Tax Assessor-Collector Elodia “Loly” Garcia, who also serves as the county voter registrar, for continued checks of the county’s registered voter rolls.
The court discussed ongoing issues with the voter registration rolls with Garcia, County Clerk Teresa Esther Chapoy and Cynthia Reyes, Chapoy’s elections deputy.
Reyes told the court she has been reviewing the voter registration rolls and found at least 80 duplicate names, which have since been corrected.
County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. expressed frustration with the process, noting that once problems are fixed, they do not seem to stay fixed. Owens said each commissioner has a list of voters in their individual precincts who appear to have recurring issues in each election and asked the commissioners to provide those names to Garcia so she can check the voter registration rolls.
Court lifts county-wide burn ban
Commissioners voted 5-0 to lift the county-wide burn ban that had prohibited outdoor burning.
County Fire Chief Jorge Vargas supported lifting the ban in light of the heavy rains that fell across the county Tuesday. Vargas said he agreed with lifting the ban “for now.”
Court approves use of parking lot for VVSO driving academy
Commissioners voted 5-0 to allow the Val Verde County Sheriff’s Office to use the parking lot at the county fairgrounds as the site of its annual driving academy.
The academy will run June 1 through June 5 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Commissioner Pct. 1 Kerr Wardlaw told the court the parking lot is deteriorating and will need to be repaved in the near future. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. asked Wardlaw to measure the parking lot so a cost estimate can be prepared.
Court approves funding for meals for vet clinic volunteers
Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve $6,000 for breakfast and lunch for more than 40 volunteers who will participate in a free spay and neuter clinic later this month.
The first clinic, held over five days in January, spayed and neutered more than 440 local cats and dogs. The clinic also had a waiting list of more than 600 pets, and organizers immediately began planning a second clinic, which will be held at the end of March.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
