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.

Medina County VOTING UNDERWAY

What are the Amendments on the ballot?

Proposition Number 1
(HJR 126)
The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment protecting the right to engage in farming, ranching, timber production, horticulture, and wildlife management.”
Proposition Number 2
(SJR 64)

The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment authorizing a local option exemption from ad valorem taxation by a county or municipality of all or part of the appraised value of real property used to operate a child-care facility.”

Proposition Number 3
(HJR 132)
The proposed amendment will appear on the ballot as follows: “The constitutional amendment prohibiting the imposition of an

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Lytle to purchase more Aquifer water as quickly as possible

By Anton Riecher
The Lytle City Council approved the purchase of 11-acre-feet of hard-to-acquire Edwards Aquifer Authority water rights for $107,000 during the council’s Oct. 10 meeting.
City Administrator Matthew Dear told the council that the city is always looking for additional water rights.
“I found these on the website for EAA,” Dear said. “The cost when I called the gentleman (Johnathon Blomstedt) is $9,500 an acre feet which is about what we are seeing in the market today.”
Dear said he immediately contacted the city attorney and was told

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Emergency Repairs to bridge approved this week

By Anton Riecher
Medina County Commissioners voted unanimously Oct. 5 to approve $264,000 in discretionary funds for the emergency repair of the County Road 5723 bridge crossing the Medina River near Castroville, recently closed due to extensive damage.
“Obviously, one of the biggest concerns to us is safety,” County Judge Keith Lutz said. “We know this is a safety concern.”
On a motion by Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, seconded by Precinct 4 David…….. READ MORE by becoming a subscriber at www.DevineNewsMembers.com

Devine approves new budget supported by ‘no-new-revenue’ rate

By Anton Riecher
Nearly eight weeks of wrangling came to a close Sept. 26 when the Devine City Council voted 4-1 to approve a “no-new-revenue” tax rate for of $.5553 per $100 valuation to support a 2023-2024 city budget of $7,933,402.

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Up for election in 2024…10 Medina County positions on the ballot next year, Deadline for candidates to file is December 11th, 2023

There are eight Medina County officials whose terms will expire in December 2024, but the deadline to file for these offices is this December 11, 2023.

-Sheriff of Medina County Randy Brown
-Tax Assessor/Collector of Medina County Melissa Lutz
-454th Judicial District Judge Daniel Kindred
-Criminal District Attorney Mark Haby
-PCT 1 County Commissioner Jessica Castiglone
-PCT 3 County Commissioner David Lynch
-Constable Pct 1 Robert Tschirhart
-Constable Pct 2. Jim Przybylski
-Constable Pct. 3 Steven Duffy
-Constable Pct. 4 Malcolm Watson

The filing dates to be on the ballot in 2024 are from November 11, 2023 to December 11, 2023. All local candidates are to file with their respective Party Chair’s Office. Name, phone number and email address is listed on the candidate filing information on our website.

A complete list of local positions in Medina County showing the expiration dates of terms can be seen at: https://www.medinacountytexas.org/page/medina.Elections > Internet Posting Requirements > Candidate Filing Information.

County Treasurer Debbie Southwell retires

Medina County Treasurer Debbie Southwell gave her letter of retirement to Commissioner’s Court this past Monday. Her retirement will take effect October 31, according to County Judge Keith Lutz.
“There is a small window of time if anyone wants to file for election from November 11-December 11 if anyone wants to run for Treasurer,” Judge Lutz said.
In the mean time, Judge Lutz adds, “We (commissioner’s court) will appoint someone to the position, but it will be on the November ballot again very soon. And unlike other elections, the newly elected treasurer would take office immediately after votes are canvassed.”
In her letter of resignation addressed to County Commissioners Jessica Castiglione, Danny Lawler, David Lynch and Larry Sittre as well as Judge Lutz, Mrs. Southwell stated:
“It has been a pleasure serving the people of Medina County, and I have gained valuable insight into the inner workings of county government. I wish all of you the best of luck in the future and pray that Medina County continues to grow and thrive.”

Contested races in Natalia2 running for mayor, 3 running for council

In the upcoming Mayor’s race….Natalia Mayor Chip Bluemel (incumbent) will be running against Tommy Ortiz (who is currently serving on council).
Also, three candidates are running for 2 at-large positions on Natalia City Council. Candidates are Darin Frazier (incumbent), Ruby Vera, and former police chief Valerie Naff.
In the school board election, candidates Paula Almendarez and Tiffany Rodriguez are unopposed.

Up for election in 2024…Deadline for candidates to file is December 11th, 2023

There are eight Medina County officials whose terms will expire in December 2024, but the deadline to file for these offices is this December 11, 2023.
-Sheriff of Medina County Randy Brown
-Tax Assessor/Collector of Medina County Melissa Lutz
-454th Judicial District Judge Daniel Kindred
-Criminal District Attorney Mark Haby
-PCT 1 County Commissioner Jessica Castiglone
-PCT 3 County Commissioner David Lynch
-Constable Pct 1 Robert Tschirhart
-Constable Pct 2. Jim Przybylski
-Constable Pct. 3 Steven Duffy
-Constable Pct. 4 Malcolm Watson

The filing dates to be on the ballot in 2024 are from November 11, 2023 to December 11, 2023. All local candidates are to file with their respective Party Chair’s Office. Name, phone number and email address is listed on the candidate filing information on our website.

A complete list of local positions in Medina County showing the expiration dates of terms can be seen at: https://www.medinacountytexas.org/page/medina.Elections > Internet Posting Requirements > Candidate Filing Information.

TCEQ cites Lytle for sewer plant violations, city prioritizing to meet 2 week deadline of Oct. 9

By Anton Riecher
Staff Writer
Lytle City Administrator Matthew Dear notified the city council Monday that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has served notice of two violations after a July inspection of the municipal collection system and the sewer service.

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