Category: City & County Politics

Information you need to know about the City of Devine, Medina County Commissioner’s Court, City of Natalia, City of Lytle, and our local Emergency Service Districts.

Better subdivision revenue bond market indicates confidence in Medina County

Medina County commissioners led by County Judge Keith Lutz, center, review a list of line item transfers during the commissioners court meeting Monday. (Photo by Anton Riecher.)

By Anton Riecher
Improved market reception for revenue bonds to support infrastructure and amenities for phase two of the $6.7 million Haby Farms subdivision near Castroville indicates stronger investor confidence in Medina County subdivisions, financial advisors told Medina County commissioners Monday.
Jack McLiney of SAMCO Capital Markets said the latest bond sale netted much improved figures over the previous sale covering phase one in 2024.
“That reflects the perceived risk by investors in the market for Medina County PID (public improvement district) bonds,” McLiney said. “They are not seeing as much risk and that is reflected in our interest rate.”
In finance, municipal market data or MMD refers to a benchmark yield curve that represents the average yields of high-grade, AAA-rated municipal bonds across various maturities. While phase one Haby Farms PID bonds sold at 211 basis points over MMD, bonds for phase two sold at 143 basis points over MMD, McLiney said.
A Public Improvement District (PID) is a designated geographic area created by a city or county. Property owners in the subdivision pay a special assessment to fund roadways, landscaping, and parks that directly benefit their community.
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Medina commissioners updated on twin threats to ranchers

By Anton Riecher
Medina County commissioners received the latest update Monday from county extension agent Taryn Titsworth on efforts to control twin threats plaguing Texas agriculture this summer – Pasture Mealybug and the New World Screwworm.
Pasture mealybug, also known as Heliococcus summervillei, has only started grabbing headlines recently. Since mid-April 2025, southern Texas pasture and hay producers in communities such as Victoria have been reporting major damage from the invasive species.
As of June 14, infestation of pasture mealybug has been identified in 50 Texas counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) identified pasture mealybug in Medina County as early as April 2023, Titsworth said.
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Legal issues threaten to further postpone Natalia ambulance substation

Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board members sought to balance speed with legal compliance regarding its long standing commitment to build an ambulance substation in Natalia addressed during the board’s June 10 meeting.
Board vice president Patrick Bourcier questioned whether the procurement process to obtain a metal building from Mansfield, TX-based Ramtech Building Systems complied with Texas purchasing law governing public agencies.
“I am worried,” Bourcier said. “I believe we have violated state law.”
He raised concerns that if the project exceeds $100,000 it may require a formal bid process including requests for proposals (RFP) unless covered by an eligible state or federal contract. Plans for the substation moved forward in April with action by the board to negotiate the purchase of a city-owned site located between the police station and fire department.
Office administrator Stephanie Earls said…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

Construction delays on Lytle’s elevated water storage facility and changes in Saddle Ridge easement

By Anton Riecher
The Lytle city administrator Zachary Meadows reported to the council that construction on a new elevated water storage facility remains on hold until August. The contractor for the storage tank, Phoenix Tanks, cited labor shortages and massive increase in demand for tank construction for the delay in the original January completion date.
Meadows said he is conferring with the city attorney on the ongoing delays. Phoenix faces a $175,000 penalty on the final bill if the city chooses to go forward with the existing contract despite the delay.
Working is on schedule for a 12-inch water line loop that would supply the completed storage facility, Meadows said.
Despite the slowdown in subdivision projects, Meadows reported that the Rosewood subdivision has completed 81 homes in its phase one project with 15 still under construction.
Adjustment in easement
In other business, the council voted unanimously to…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get instant access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!

ELECTION NEWS

Devine ISD has two seats up, Feb. 13 deadline to sign up

District 3 held by Henry Moreno and District 4 Board President held by Nancy Pepper are up for election.  The deadline to file application for place on the ballot is 5:00 p.m. on February 13, 2026.
As of Tuesday, January 27, Incumbant Nancy Pepper has signed up for re-election to District 4.
Britny Stricker filed for the District 3 position.
Both are district seats but open to any qualified resident of Devine ISD.
Any qualified candidate can run for either district seat, but only the voters that live within district 3 or district 4 can vote in their district’s race.

City of Devine

The 2026 General Election for the City of Devine will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Seats that will be on the ballot include those held by Ray Gonzales ( District 1 councilman), Jeff Miller (District 3 councilman), and Josh Ritchey (District 4 councilman–who recently resigned). These positions expire in May 2026. The filing period to be placed on the ballot starts January 14, 2026 and ends February 13, 2026.

Mayor and 3 council seats up election, deadline to file is February 13

The Mayor and three council seats, District 1, 4 and 5 are up for election on Saturday, May 2, 2026. Only one application has been filed so far to be on the ballot, that of Michael Vasquez for the District 1 position.
The filing period for a place on the ballot ends February, 13, 2026. Applications are available at city hall.
Currently representing the City of Lytle are Ruben Gonzalez as the Mayor, Michael Rodriguez as the Alderman for District 4 and Matthew Martinez as District 5.
The District 1 position is on the ballot also because of a vacancy, but it will be for only a one year term. The others are normal two year terms.

Lytle ISD

Lytle ISD school board elections are conducted in May each year. During this election cycle, two Single Member Districts are up for election:
Single Member District 3 – Incumbent: Bobby Sollock 
Single Member District 4 – Incumbent: Eva Burley
The deadline to file an application for a place on the ballot is February 13th at 5:00 p.m.  The deadline to declare write-in candidacy is February 17th at 5:00 p.m. 

ELECTION NEWS

Devine ISD has two seats up, Feb. 13 deadline to sign up

District 3 held by Henry Moreno and District 4 held by Nancy Pepper are up for election.  The deadline to file application for place on the ballot is 5:00 p.m. on February 13, 2026.
As of Tuesday, January 20, Nancy Pepper has signed up for re-election. You must reside in those districts to file or vote.

City of Devine

The 2026 General Election for the City of Devine will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2026.
Seats that will be on the ballot include those held by Ray Gonzales ( District 1 councilman), Jeff Miller (District 3 councilman), and Josh Ritchey (District 4 councilman–who recently resigned). These positions expire in May 2026. The filing period to be placed on the ballot starts January 14, 2026 and ends February 13, 2026.

City of Lytle

The City of Lytle holds its election for city council and Mayor on the first Saturday in May of each year. The election for Districts 4, 5, and the mayor are held in even numbered years. Michael Rodriguez is the Alderman of District 4, and Matthew Martinez is the Alderman of District 5. Ruben Gonzalez is the Mayor. All of these positions expire in May 2026. Filing period for a place on the ballot starts January 14, 2026 and ends February 13, 2026.

$4.2 M for Medina County Law Enforcement Radio Upgrades

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed all remaining annual funding bills, keeping the federal government fully operational through the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26). Through his seat on the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Tony Gonzales (TX-23) secured over $42 million in direct funding for communities across South and West Texas.
$4.2 M for Medina County law enforcement radio upgrades is one of the community investments secured by Congressman Gonzales.
“There are several major highways and two major rail lines that run through Medina County—as a result, the county has seen an increase in calls to help assist other agencies with border crisis issues. Further, there are schools along the county line, making communication between surrounding agencies imperative to ensure a quick response time to emergencies at those schools. This project would upgrade the communications system to improve interoperability throughout the county,” a representative with Gonzales’ office added.

New fire protection management conducts emergency pre-planning at 31 Devine businesses

Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners president Todd Summers, left, presides during the board’s Jan. 20 meeting with board vice president Jeff Howard seen at right. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
Since assuming management responsibility for Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 in October, Castroville-based ESD1 has visited 31 businesses in Devine to establish pre-fire planning for any local emergencies, ESD1 battalion chief David Powers reported during the Jan. 20 ESD2 board meeting.
“We got out with the public, visiting to see where everybody is at,” Powers said.
A fire pre-plan is a detailed mapping of a building’s layout, fire protection systems and special hazards to assist emergency responders with rapid, safe and effective decision making upon arrival.
For example, Powers noted that it was determined that an interior hydrant at one major retailer was not providing adequate pressure for fire protection. The emergency pre-plan directs firefighters to another hydrant instead.
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