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.

The Medina County Hospital District Appoints New Board Member

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2023
Hondo, Texas, August 28, 2023 – The Medina County Hospital District is pleased to announce the appointment of one new board member, Mary E. Mangold. The Medina County Hospital District Board of Directors is composed of seven elected directors. Four directors are elected by the voters in the four county precincts, and three directors are elected at-large. Mary E. Mangold was appointed as Director at Large, Place 5 during the Board of Director’s meeting on Monday, August 28th, 2023.

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Devine school board asks voters for VATRE Tax rate and $11.2 Million bond election date set for Nov. 7

At its monthly meeting Monday, August 21, DISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to call for a $11.255 million bond election and a voter-approval tax ratification election (VATRE) for Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
What is a VATRE?

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Hundreds of new laws go into effect this month

By Gary Borders
A total of 774 new laws went into effect on Sept. 1, affecting Texans in many areas of their lives, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The new laws concern property taxes, registration fees and voting access, among other issues. Several have drawn court challenges from opponents.

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Freedom Walk this Saturday

Join the Lytle VFW Post 12041 and Auxiliary and the City of Lytle for the 2023 Patriot Day Freedom Walk Remembrance at John Lott Municipal Park. The Freedom Walk will be this Saturday, September 9 at 10 AM, followed by a Remembrance Ceremony to honor victims of 9/11. It’s an all day event going on until 10:30 PM.
Enjoy hot dogs and chips provided by the VFW while supplies last. Bring the whole family and enjoy shopping local vendors, food trucks, games, music, face painting and more! There will also be lots of music!

Responsibility for chemical inventory and bill at golf course still in question

By Anton Riecher
By a 3-2 vote, the Devine City Council rejected a motion to release the management group previously in charge of the city golf course from responsibility for an outstanding balance of $36,000 due for lawn chemicals.

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Down to one water well… Devine calls emergency meeting, new pump and back-up on the way

By Kathleen Calame
Publisher, The Devine News
The pump on the Edwards Water Well #1 went down last Friday, August 25, 2023 leaving only one well to service the entire City of Devine, prompting an emergency meeting. At one point in time the City of Devine had five wells.

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TxDOT report offers no “silver bullet” to fix Devine’s airport woes

By Anton Riecher
A recent report from the Texas Department of Transportation’s Aviaition Division on the Devine Airport contained no “silver bullet” to quickly resolve the many problems plaguing the facility, airport board president Hap Squires told the city council Aug. 15.

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County judge casts deciding vote on measure to change apportionment of road funds

By Anton Riecher

Medina County Judge Keith Lutz cast a rare deciding vote on commissioners’ court action August 17, joining with two other members to approve a measure amending how funds for road construction and maintenance are apportioned to the precincts.

The vote followed Precinct 2 Commissioner Larry Sittre abrupt departure after several terse exchanges with Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch on the proposed amendment.

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Devine mayor requests sheriff investigation into private water tie-in at golf course

By Anton Riecher


Brian Navarro, golf course superintendent with the Devine Golf Group, revealed the existence of the tie-in during a status report on the golf course during an Aug. 19 session of the Devine City Council.

By Anton Riecher
Mayor Butch Cook requested an investigation by the Medina County Sheriff’s Department of water drawn for private use from the city-owned Devine golf course water system by means of a recently discovered water line tie-in.
“I think this needs to be turned over to the sheriff and have an outside investigation,” Cook said. “Whatever the sheriff determines is how we will proceed.”

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