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.

Devine council approves preliminary plat for new coffee shop

The matter of the dog attack this past May will be discussed again at a future meeting council said in response to a Devine resident who presented new information and questions to the council during the public comment’s portion of Tuesday’s meeting.

By Anton Riecher
Land-use decisions, infrastructure funding and long-term action on code enforcement occupied the Devine City Council during a regular meeting held July 21.
City Permits Director Juanita Romero noted the wide ranging variety of land-use decisions facing the council.
“Today we have a little potpourri of what planning and zoning actually does,” she told council members.
Leading the agenda on land use, the council voted to approve a preliminary plat for a new coffee shop at 635 East Hondo Ave. The brick-and-mortar drive-through coffee location extends a brand established in nearby Lytle.
A public notice was mailed to 23 properties within a 200-foot buffer of the shop site, together with an ad published July 1st and 8th in The Devine News, Romero said. Of those properties only two owners replied, both in favor of the new business.
With the plat meeting all city design requirements, the council voted to approve the plat on the recommendation of the city staff.
Zoning Issues
The council also approved a rezoning at 105 Anderson St. that changed two acres of a 16-acre tract from Class A residential to Class B residential to allow placement of a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development financed manufactured home.
Class A zoning allows only a standard single-family home while Class B allows manufactured homes. Notice was mailed to 16 properties within a 200-foot buffer and advertising notifying the public of the zoning request published in The Devine News.
Two responses to the mailed notices were received by the city, both positive. The owners of the property, on hand for the council meeting, explained that the land had belonged to the same family for many years.
The council discussed…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!

Medina County completes record preservation project

County Clerk Gina Champion displays a specially designed container designed to preserve historic records on file with her office. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
A contract with a Dallas-based company specializing in restoration and preservation of historical records for governmental agencies was unanimously approved by the Medina County Commissioners Court Monday.
Outgoing County Clerk Gina Champion reported that the current preservation project undertaken by Kofile Technologies, Inc., involving digitizing records as well as preservation of the original documents had been completed.
“I’m coming to the end of my time with the county clerk’s office,” Champion said. “Since the beginning of my term in office I’ve worked on numerous projects and I’ve very proud of the present preservation from deterioration project that has been completed.”
Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch took charge of the meeting in the absence of County Judge Keith Lutz who was scheduled to testify before Texas Senate Committee on Finance Monday in Austin on issues of infrastructure in counties adjacent to large metropolitan areas.
The purpose of the Kofile Technologies project is to protect records from deterioration, create a digital backup for vital records in case of natural or man-made disaster, and improve public access to records in digital form.
Subject covered…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!

Lytle council tables community center drainage proposal

By Anton Riecher
Action on a proposal to hire engineering firm Kimley-Horn to manage drainage and exterior improvements to the Lytle Community Center was tabled by city council members Monday until company representatives can clarify their cost estimates directly to the council.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said he has been working with Kimley-Horn because of their history in managing local drainage issues.
“I’ve been working with Kimley-Horn, working through what would make the most sense for some of the site improvements to deal with the drainage, since they have been our drainage experts,” he said.
However, council members questioned…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!

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.
On a motion…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!

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.
A major…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!

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.