By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of commissioners court were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Court approves additional funding for CASA program
• Commissioners court members voted 4-1, with County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr.
casting the sole opposing vote, to approve a request for additional funding for the CASA
of Val Verde County program. The court approved initial funding for the group in 2024.
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Val Verde County is part of a nationwide
program that trains volunteers who can be appointed by a court to advocate for children
placed in foster care as a result of neglect or abuse. Megan Martinez, CASA volunteer
supervisor, and Carmen Abreu, CASA interim executive director, gave a presentation to
the court in making the request for $20,000 more in the current fiscal year and $50,000 in
next year’s budget. Owens said he could not vote for the request because he feels the
program’s leaders should come before the court at least once a quarter to give a report on
how the money is spent. Abreu and Martinez pledged to make a report on CASA’S
activities at least once a quarter. The court approved an additional $15,000 for CASA in
the current fiscal year, and Owens said he will consider the $50,000 request during the
county’s budget cycle.
•
Court hears progress update on three major water projects
• Commissioner court took no action on the presentation of environmental review
monitoring responses for three major county water projects, including the Comstock
water storage tank, the San Felipe Pastures water booster station and the Vega Verde
Road water line extension. Carl Esser, the county’s grants administrator, told the court all
three of the projects “are moving forward.”
•
Court approves agreement for public defender office
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to approve an interlocal agreement between Culberson
County and Val Verde County for the creation of a public defender office in Val Verde
County. The Texas Council on Indigent Defense has awarded a grant to Culberson
County’s Far West Regional Public Defender Office, allowing it to open a public
defender office here. Attorney James McDermott, who heads the Far West Public
Defender Office, introduced Paul Chambers to the court. Chambers will be moving to
Del Rio from Alpine to head the local office. The court also voted 5-0 to appoint County
Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. to the oversight board of the Far West Regional Public
Defender Office. The board is “responsible for monitoring the caseload and activities” of
the Far West Regional Public Defender Office.
•
Court tables action on bridge referendum resolution
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 to table for two weeks any action on an order calling for
a November referendum on the city of Del Rio’s plans to construct a second international
bridge. County Attorney David Martinez said he is still working on the exact wording of
the ballot measure and advised the court to wait two more weeks if members wanted to
see the wording before approving the order. The court voted during its last meeting to
place two issues regarding the planned bridge on the November ballot. Voters will be
asked whether or not they believe a second international bridge is necessary and if that
bridge should be built upstream or downstream of the existing bridge.
•
Court postpones action on fire station property
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to table any action on a possible exchange of
property with the city of Del Rio so the county can build a new fire station between the
“Y” intersection of U.S. Highways 90 and 277 and State Loop 79 just north of the Del
Rio city limits. The court pledged to build the new fire station because of the growth and
development of residential areas northwest of the city in areas like the Lake Ridge
Estates. The court voted to table any action on a possible land swap until more
investigations of possible sites for the fire station can be carried out.
•
Court approved purchases of materials, services
• Commissioners court voted 5-0 on each of the following agenda items, presented by
County Purchasing Agent Melissa Vasquez:
– Ratified Change Order #1 for the event center to be built at the county
fairgrounds. The change order changes to roof’s panels from galvalume, a silver-
gray color, to white, a move that will increase the original contract amount by
$2,750.
– Rescinded a previous court order authorizing the use of insurance funds to replace
the roof at the county’s family violence shelter for the amount of $19,947. The
contractor could not provide workers’ compensation insurance.
– Authorized the use of insurance funds to replace the roof at the family violence
center in the amount of $21,000 and award to AAA Roofing. Proof of insurance
requirements has been obtained.
– Approved an annual recurring purchase of a software app for service tickets, asset
management and project management to be used by the county’s IT and
purchasing departments. Department heads said the software will “enable more
accurate tracking of assets, along with costs and the date of purchase and will
greatly assist in developing future refresh plans.” The recurring annual expense is
$4,064 and will be paid this year from the county’s contingency fund.
– Awarded a bid for a mobile cascade system to be used by the county’s fire
department. The only bid received was made by Heat Safety Equipment LLC in
the amount of $79,015.80, and the amount of the purchase will be funded from
the Border Zone Fire Grant.
– Extended a contract bid for the installation of electrical wiring at Precinct 1’s new
warehouse building until Aug. 15. The contractor has finished 90 percent of the
work.
– Authorized the purchase of seven three-camera in-car systems with body-worn
cameras, accessories and a five-year Cloud subscription for use by the sheriff’s
office. Funding of $89,400 will be taken from the sheriff’s office budget and
$22,250 will come from state-authorized SB 22 monies, for a total cost of
$111,650.
– Approved the opening of a new account with a state-awarded vendor for the
county’s commercial charge card services and authorized the county judge to sign
the necessary forms. County Auditor Matt Weingardt told the court this move will
assist the county when crews are sent out of the county to perform emergency
work, among other benefits.
– Declared a list of used items as surplus and designated them for disposal.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com
