City & County Politics – Page 3

County takes no action on Meals on Wheels funding appeal

By Anton Riecher
Medina Senior Center Executive Director Sharayah Gonzales made a heartfelt appeal for funds to the Medina County Commissioners Court Monday to save the local Meals on Wheels program, which is left reeling from recent cutbacks.
“Today I come to you because right now we are in urgent need and we are looking to prevent the shutdown of our program serving more than 3,000 seniors in Medina County,” Gonzales said.
She told commissioners that without an infusion of cash the program could shut down by mid-to-late July.
Recent proposed budget cuts, particularly from the Trump administration, are targeting Older Americans Act (OAA) programs. These cuts could significantly impact vital services for older adults, including nutrition programs, health promotion, disease prevention, and elder abuse prevention efforts.
To date, the Medina County Meals on Wheels program has suffered funding cuts of more than $112,000. The total shortfall for the entire program is $250,000 out of an annual cost of $400,000.
“It’s near and dear to my heart,” Gonzales said. “I feel like it’s an honor to represent all the seniors in our community.”
The county already funds Meals on Wheels to the extent of $50,000 annually through the Texas Department of Agriculture which facilitates the Texans Feeding Texans: Home Delivered Meals Grant Program. In addition to money sought from the county, Meals on Wheels has applied for $138,000 in grant funding from the Baptist Health Foundation.
Unfortunately, because of the pressure placed on that grant program, the amount the local Meals on Wheels is eligible to obtain has been slashed to $35,000, Gonzales said. Meals on Wheels is also applying for funding through the James Avery jewelry company.
Meals on Wheels has already been forced to reduce its number of eligible seniors by nearly 60 people in March. Applications from nearly 45 more seniors to join the program are pending.
Meals on Wheels volunteers drive nearly 20,000 miles annually to deliver meals to eligible seniors. The average cost per meal is $8, Gonzales said.
She added that the Medina Senior Center is planning a fundraising event in July in an attempt to keep the program going.
Commissioners took no immediate action on the matter.
In other action, the commissioners voted 3-0 to approve a resolution amending the development agreement for the Talley Ho Public Improvement District.
Also, the court voted to approve an owner/contractor agreement for the partial remodeling of the Medina County tax office at 1502 Avenue M in Hondo in conjunction with a sealed bid awarded to W.R. Griggs Construction Co. in April.

Lytle council reviews local water restrictions in place

Catherine Vaughn, new president of the Greater Lytle Area Chamber of Commerce, delivered an update on chamber activities to the Lytle City Council during a regular session meeting Monday.

By Anton Riecher
Meeting in regular session Monday, the Lytle City Council discussed the need to remind residents of the different restrictions that take effect at the various levels of water restriction invoked by the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
Meadows said the issue was brought home recently when EAA rescinded Stage 5 water restrictions only days after putting them in place.
“Since we are having this kind of back and forth we just wanted to again bring forth those measures that we have provided, making sure we are speaking about them and being transparent about the items listed,” he said.
For example, residential swimming pools require a permit from the city. At Stage 5, a request made to permit a swimming pool is automatically rejected, Meadows said. However, at Stage 4, a residential pool is allowed to operate but water must come from a source separate from the city water system, i.e., a private well.
After more than a year at Stage 4 in Lytle, city residents sometimes tend 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!

County approves flood control study negotiations

The Medina County Commissioners Court voted to proclaim June Elder Abuse Awareness Month. County Judge Keith Lutz said that such abuse affected more than 125,850 older adults and people with disabilities in Texas in 2024. On hand for the presentation were members of the local APS office. (Photo by Anton Riecher)

By Anton Riecher
On two important fronts – flood control and drinking water – the Uvalde-based Nueces River Authority is gaining greater significance to residents of Medina County.
On June 2, the Medina County Commissioners Court voted 3-0 allow County Judge Keith Lutz to negotiate terms for a future interlocal agreement with NRA governing the county’s participation in a Nueces River basin study to update floodplain maps, to be conducted by the Texas Water Development Board.
According to Travis Pruski, NRA chief operating officer, one of the biggest issues with state floodplain planning is the lack of maps and outdated data.
“We applied for a grant through the TWDB flood infrastructure funds to help update county maps throughout (Nueces Flood Planning Region 13),” Pruski told commissioners. The grant would also cover studying early warning systems, high hazard dam assessment and low water crossings.
NRA did receive…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!

Executive session…Lytle secures deal for future water needs for city

By Anton Riecher
Following a executive session, the Lytle City Council approved an agreement with the Nueces River Authority for the purchase of future water needs for the city. Travis Pruski, chief operating officer with NRA, said the sale is part of a project to provide nearly 40 million gallons to small water districts south of San Antonio.
“This is extremely important to us and to the region,” Pruski said. “We call it internally our South Texas moonshot.”
Other communities expected to be included in the project include Castroville, Hondo and Jourdanton, he 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!

Lytle approves development agreement for hyperscaler project

By Anton Riecher
At a May 28 special meeting, the Lytle City Council voted unanimously to approve a development agreement with Rowan Digital Infrastructure as the latest step in the planned construction of a $500 million large scale build-to-suit data center slated to bring nearly 600 construction jobs to the community this summer.
“Obviously we’ve been working really closely for the last few months on multiple phases of the development that’s going to occur for the data center,” said City Administrator Zachary Meadows. “This is the next step, an actual development agreement laying out certain terms.”
The agreement lays out a schedule for annexation of the 440-acre project site located in the city’s extra territorial jurisdiction near the Coal Mine neighborhood. ETJ refers to an area surrounding the city’s corporate limits where it has powers related to land development and annexation, but not full municipal services.
According to Meadows, the agreement would impose a “carbon copy” of Lytle’s zoning regulations for industrial districts on the project. The agreement also…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!

Governor signs bill aiding local aquifer storage project

Gov. Greg Abbott Saturday signed Senate Bill 616 that local officials expect to help make the proposed Medina County aquifer storage and recovery project a future reality.
The proposed project calls for creating a 50,000 acre-foot freshwater ASR project in the brackish Trinity Aquifer beneath the Edwards Aquifer. SB 616 amends the state water code to address aquifer storage and recovery projects that intersect the Edwards Aquifer, specifically in Williamson County east of Interstate 35.
“The bill clarifies that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) may authorize injection wells that transect the Edwards Aquifer under certain conditions,” Fast Democracy reports. “These conditions include the injection of groundwater withdrawn from the Edwards Aquifer, stormwater, floodwater, or groundwater through improved sinkholes or caves, and specifically, the inclusion of ASR injection wells that inject water into a geologic formation underlying the Edwards Aquifer.”
The bill was sponsored by state senators Charles Schwertner and Sarah Eckhardt and state representative Caroline Harris Davila.
Medina County Judge Keith Lutz, addressing a meeting of the Medina County Regional Water Alliance earlier this month, reported that an amendment in support of the local ASR project had been successfully attached to SB 616.
That amendment will put the Medina County project “on the fast track” in Austin, Lutz said.
The bill was passed by the 89th Texas Legislature on May 12.

Emergency repair to aging Edwards water well

By Anton Riecher
Taking emergency action, the Devine City Council authorized the possible replacement of the wellhead and pipe for the city’s number two Edwards Aquifer water well after damage from a major break in a 12-inch water main reported April 27.

City Administrator David Jordan asked for an emergency authorization during the council’s regular session May 20, stating that if the city’s sole remaining Edward Aquifer well goes down “we’re in trouble.”

A preliminary inspection of the 2,000 feet of pipe beneath the wellhead revealed major corrosion at the 300 foot level, City Public Works Director Pete Sanchez told the council. The pipe and wellhead have been in place since 1990.
“We’re thinking that if it’s like that upstairs it’s going to be like that downstairs,” Sanchez said.

On a motion by District 3 Alderman Jeff Miller, seconded by District 1 Alderman Ray Gonzales, the council voted 4-0 to approved pulling the well to inspect the pipe and, if necessary, replacing the pipe and wellhead at a cost of $127,000.
District 2 Alderman Michael Hernandez was absent for the council meeting.
Sanchez told the council that he suspects an air pocket in the water main damaged the pipe at the bottom of the well.

“The whole column lifted and broke the wellhead,” he said.
In answer to a question by Mayor Butch Cook, Sanchez said he thought the price quoted for the entire project, including replacement of the wellhead, was reasonable given the age of the well. Pulling the entire length of pipe for inspection will cost $13,000 alone, Sanchez said.

“It’s been a while since we pulled it,” he said.
Miller asked if the expense would come from the water utility since it is not included in the city budget. Jordan replied that would come from the water fund since “in preparation to rehabilitate the groundwater storage tank (near Warhorse Stadium) we have found many situations like this.”
When Miller offered his motion, City Attorney Thomas Cate interjected that unless the council declared the situation an emergency any such project costing more than $50,000 would need to go out for bids.

“If we are going with these people tonight we need to have the finding of an emergency,” Cate said.
Miller amended his motion to include an emergency declaration.

4 leaving City… Devine is looking for new Secretary, PD Chief, Treasurer and Clerk

The City of Devine now has four positions open in the city office and is hiring a firm to handle the application process called Clear Career Professionals after learning of four position retirements or resignations.

City Secretary Dora Rodriguez just turned in her retirement on Wednesday, May 21 after 41 years. She will continue until the end of July 2025. Rodriguez has held many positions in the past 41 years serving Devine since graduating from Devine High School in 1984 to even include the Interim City Administrator position on several occasions to keep things going.

Police Chief Kandy Benavidez first announced her retirement a few weeks ago after 40 years of service. She will continue until the end of June 2025.
Next, in the finance department Denise Duffy turned in her resignation in May, working until the end of May. She has worked in the Treasurer/Accounting department in Devine for 13 years and 20 overall career. Her husband recently retired as well.

Court Administrator/ Utility Clerk Supervisor Alma has been working at the City of Devine for the past 16 years, she gave her two weeks notice for another job opportunity, her last day was May 17.

“At the beginning of the month I had one position to fill. By the end of the month I now have four, “ said City Administrator David Jordan. “It’s going to be a busy summer and we have a lot of projects going on too.”
First review deadline for applications is June 13, 2025 as listed on clearcareerpro.com.

Medina burn ban extended another 90 days

By Anton Riecher

Due to extensive drought conditions a burn ban originally approved by the Medina County Commissioners Court in February has been extended an additional 90 days effective Monday.

On a motion by Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, seconded by Precinct 1 Commissioner Jessica Castiglioni, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the extension requested by county emergency management coordinator Mark Chadwick.

“If you know anybody who does rain dancing or anything else I would entertain talking to somebody at this point,” Chadwick said.

Out of 254 Texas counties, Medina County is one of 84 counties currently under a burn ban. Nearby Zavala, Frio and Atascosa counties are also under current bun bans.

A check of the local fire risk as determined by the Keetch-Bryan drought index Sunday morning showed Medina County at a high of 646 out of a possible 800, he said. The index balances precipitation against soil moisture to calculate potential fire risk.

The county median stands at 552 and the low was measured at 450, Chadwick said.

“Right now our drought index is jumping anywhere from five to 10 points a day,” he said. “As the heat increases for the next few weeks and you have days like tomorrow (Tuesday) we are already looking at a relative humidity that is going to drop to 12 percent.”

As the summer heat increases, the drought index is expected to jump as many as 15 points a day, he said.

Instead of brief, periodic rains that quickly run off, the county needs three to four days of slow, soaking rainfall to break the drought, Chadwick said. Short of a tropical storm moving in from the Gulf, such heavy rains are unlikely.

County Judge Keith Lutz, who formerly served as the county’s emergency management coordinator, noted that while short steady rains are insufficient to break the drought, resulting conditions may be safe enough for Chadwick or the sheriff’s office to issue temporary exemptions to the burn ban.

Last year the county issued 472 such permits, Chadwick said. Since October, the county has issued 610 temporary permits to allow burning under safe conditions, he said.

“We process them as fast as we can get them,” Chadwick said.

In other business, the commissioners took no action on the appointment of Cynthia Sultenfuss to replace Juan Zamora on the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 board of commissioners due to an error in posting the item to the official court agenda, Lutz said.

Whereas the item was added to the court’s on-line agenda, it was mistakenly left off the agenda posted for the public outside the courthouse annex in Hondo.

Commissioners did take action to make 40 mph the official speed limit for County Road 6612 after a public hearing on the issue. Precinct 4 Commissioners Danny Lawler explained that while 40 mph is the posted speed limit, the commissioners court had failed set that speed as the official limit, making it unenforceable.

No comment was offered during the public hearing. On a motion by Lawler, seconded by Lynch, the commissioners voted unanimously to set the speed limit at 40 mph.

Commissioners also voted unanimously to approve a road use agreement with Rowan Land Resources for construction and maintenance on portions of county roads 683 and 6712 bordering the “Project Cinco” hyperscaler data center project near Lytle. Rowan Land Resources is the property acquisition arm of Rowan Digital Infrastructure, developer of the data center project.

The motion was made by Lynch and seconded by Castiglioni.

MCESD#2 waiting on audits, learn insurance paid because Schulz was an auxiliary member

By Anton Riecher
Regarding the forensic audit authorized by the board, Summers said the district’s auditing firm is still working to complete basic audits for fiscal years 2022-2023, 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 before work can commence on the forensic audit. That basic work will determine the definitive cost of the forensic investigation.
“Doing the actual audits is going to lead them down the path to how much more work is going to have to be done to do a forensic audit,” Summers said.
ESD2 Bookkeeper Nancy Pepper estimated that work on FY 2022-2023 will be completed by the end of May, allowing auditors to proceed to FY 2023-2024.
Delivering her report on the ESD2 finances, Pepper said the district has collected $270,266 in sales tax for the fiscal year to date with $50,736 in tax revenue collected in May. Total income for the district as of April 30 is $723,621. Total expenditure for the year to date is $260,000, leaving a budgeted balance of $462,597.
A recent letter from the Medina Central Appraisal District indicates that the preliminary appraised value for ESD2 is being estimated at $857.3 million, up slightly from the final appraisal of $856.9 million last year, Pepper said. Exemptions for homestead and over 65 exemptions are expected to total about $55 million, she said.
In Texas, a mechanism known as “compression” is applied to appraisal value to help mitigate the increase in property value on taxpayers. Pepper 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!