By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
All five members of commissioners court were present.
Here’s what happened at the meeting:
Citizens ask court for clarity, accountability
• Three citizens spoke to county commissioners court during its meeting on Wednesday.
County residents Lori Reyes and Jon Grace urged the court to be more clear in the
wording of ballot language for a referendum on the November ballot regarding the city of
Del Rio’s plans for a second international bridge, and Del Rio resident and former city
councilwoman Alexandra Falcon Calderon asked the court to institute an application
form and an after-action report for organizations who ask for and receive county hotel
occupancy tax (HOT) funds.
•
Court approves three measures for referendum on international bridge
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve three items on its agenda regarding
a proposed November referendum on the city of Del Rio’s plans to construct a second
international bridge. The court first voted to set the Nov. 4 referendum on the second
bridge. Though the county attorney and county clerk have yet to hammer out the exact
language that will appear on the ballot, the first question voters will be asked to answer is
if they are for or against the county supporting the construction of a second bridge. The
second question will ask voters who do support the county supporting the construction of
a second bridge whether or not they want that bridge built north of the existing bridge,
and the third question will ask voters who support the county supporting the construction
of a second bridge whether or not they want that bridge built south of the existing bridge.
•
Divided court approves funding for IGNC-Del Rio Chapter
• Commissioners court members voted 3-2 to approve a request by the International Good
Neighbor Council-Del Rio Chapter for $10,000 from county hotel occupancy tax (HOT)
funds to support its annual Fiesta de Amistad events. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr.
spoke against the request, saying he has “an issue” with the organization and discussing
his reservations in depth. After back-and-forth with the IGNC’s representative at the
meeting, president Andrew Scarbo, Commissioner Pct. 2 Juan Carlos Vazquez eventually
made a motion to approve the request, specifying as part of his motion that the group
present the county with receipts on money that is spent. Vazquez, Commissioner Pct. 1
Kerr Wardlaw and Commissioner Pct. 3 Fernando Garcia voted in favor of the motion,
with Owens and Commissioner Pct. 4 Gustavo “Gus” Flores voting against the motion.
•
Court okays use of Tony Faz Annex for Belong-SJRC Texas, NA meetings
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to approve the use of a portion of the Judge
Antonio “Tony” Faz County Annex Building by Belong-SJRC Texas, a group that is
“dedicated to building resilient families and fostering safe, nurturing environments for children,” according to its web site. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. asked the group’s
representative, Roxanne Carter, to return to the court in three months to give an update
and a proposal for possible future funding by the county. The court also voted 5-0 to
approve a request from Del Rioan Eddie Martinez to use a portion of the county annex
building for scheduled biweekly meetings of Narcotics Anonymous, an addiction
recovery support organization.
•
Court votes on setting 2025 county tax rate
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to set the county property tax rate for 2025 at
$0.4977 per $100 of property value. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. said the proposed
county property tax rate is the same as this year’s rate. Owens did point out that county
property owners will pay more in county taxes in the coming year because of an increase
in property values. Commissioners court members also voted 5-0 to set a public hearing
on the tax rate at 9:15 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 25, during the court’s next regular term
meeting. The court also voted 5-0 to set a vote on the final adoption of the 2025 county
property tax rate for its first regular term meeting in September, on Sept. 10.
•
Court votes on budget workshop, hearing, adoption
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to set workshops on the proposed Fiscal Year
2025-2026 county budget for their meetings on Aug. 25 and Sept. 10. County Judge
Lewis G. Owens Jr. said he will formally file the proposed county budget for next year
with the county clerk on Friday. The court also voted 5-0 to set a public hearing on the
budget for 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 25, during its next regular term meeting. Finally,
the court voted 5-0 to set a vote on adopting the proposed county budget for the next
fiscal year for Sept. 10.
•
Court sets elected officials’ salaries
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to set elected officials’ salaries in the Fiscal
Year 2025-2026 county budget. County Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. noted that last year,
the county’s elected officials did not get a raise, adding he is recommending a 5 percent
pay increase for them in the coming year’s budget. Owens also asked the court to take
note of a large increase in the salary of County Court-At-Law Judge Sergio Gonzalez,
saying the increase was mandated by the state. Owens also said he and other county
officials receive allowances and supplements from the state that augment their county
salaries. Owens said he has no control over what those numbers are. The list of the
county elected officials’ salaries will be published in Friday’s edition of The 830 Times.
•
Court calls for internal audit of tax assessor collector office
• Commissioners court members voted 5-0 to conduct an internal audit of the office of
County Tax Assessor Collector Elodia “Loly” Garcia, who also serves as the county’s
voter registrar. Garcia’s office was the focus of a preliminary election audit report issued
by the Texas Secretary of State’s office recently. The report found discrepancies in the
voter registration records and the maps used by the office to delineate voting precincts
lines and recommended the office be placed under “administrative oversight” by the
Secretary of State’s office. Commissioners court voted to conduct an internal audit,
beginning with voters known to have encountered problems casting ballots in the most recent election. The court also voted to direct Garcia to report to the court at its meetings
every two weeks to give updates on what she is doing to address the problems in her
office. Garcia was not present for Wednesday’s meeting.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com .
