City & County Politics – Page 6

New Devine Fire office manager struggles to correct past bookkeeping

Sophia Benavides (center) has been tasked with cleaning up the past accounting practices for the Devine Volunteer Fire and Rescue.

By Anton Riecher
A new office manager/bookkeeper for Devine Volunteer Fire & Rescue is diligently working to correct and reconcile the agency’s ledgers in the wake of a scandal involving $76,000 in missing funds, DVF&R membership association president Robert Pequerno reported April 15 to the Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board of commissioners.
“Right now, with the whole new system, we’re just trying to clean it up and have it user friendly and presentable,” Pequerno told the commissioners.
Sophia Benavides, the new DVF&R bookkeeper, described some of the difficulties involved in cleaning up past accounting practices.
“I do feel that as I’ve been looking through a lot of our accounts that the funds haven’t been put in the right buckets,” she said…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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 commissioners hear concerns about old mines as they approve replat of ‘Project Cinco’ hyperscaler site

Medina County Auditor Eduardo Lopez is stepping down effective May 3 to pursue other career interests. Former assistant auditor Rubi Gaucin, currently serving as county human resources director, is taking Lopez’ place. The county is recruiting a new HR director.

By Anton Riecher
Medina County commissioners approved an application by Rowan Digital Infrastructure to consolidate the 440-acre site for a proposed hyperscaler data center near Lytle into a single parcel as the basis for future subdivision.
On a motion by Precinct 3 Commissioner David Lynch, seconded by Precinct 4 Commissioner Danny Lawler, the commissioners voted 4-0 to create Rowan Cinco subdivision on Texas 132 and County Road 6712.
Also on a motion by Lynch, seconded by Lawler, the court voted 4-0 to approve a preliminary commercial development site plan creating Rowan Project Cinco.
According to Rowan representative Dave Trevor, the lot consolidation is the first step in the preliminary development plan needed to move forward with the project. Subsequent subdivision of the property included an eight-acre parcel deeded to Texas AEP as the site of an electrical substation.
The site development plan includes preliminary drawings for the data center structure and an accompanying office building.
Trevor made reference to a recent open house conducted at Lytle High School to familiarize the community with the project.
“One of the reasons we wanted to do that is to show that, one, we are listening to the community and that we want to take in feedback and incorporate that into our development but also demonstrate that we have the pulse of what is important to the community. Our design incorporates that feedback.”
During the public comments portion that opened the Monday agenda, Lytle resident Cliff Garrison posed a question about Project Cinco.
“My visit today is to simply ask whether or not Rowan is aware of the lignite coal mining operations that occurred during the late 1880s through 1920s?” Garrision said. “If so, can Rowan produce or share its certified geotechnical survey?”
Garrison said he was concerned that vibration from the hyperscaler project might collapse the long abandoned underground tunnels from mining. He made reference to recent problems in New Jersey from similar projects.
“Unfortunately, maps of the area are almost impossible to find,” he said. “However, a 1913 Medina Valley irrigation map filed in Hondo in 1914 does show the general areas where Coal Mine of Lytle conducted operations for a number of companies.”
Commissioner Lynch passed a printed copy of Garrison’s presentation to the Rowan representatives…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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!

Consumers confront Devine council on 48.2 percent rate hike

Public response to a 48.2 percent hike in water and sewer rates partially implemented beginning in January ranged from challenging the Devine City Council for past management errors to congratulating it for its current transparency.
Without appropriate water/sewer rate increases the city could find itself struggling with growing debt, said City Administrator David Jordan during an April 15 public hearing. He presented an in-depth analysis of service rates over the last two decades cited as the foundation for the proposed rate increases.
“Without appropriate water/sewer rate increases, the city of Devine could find itself nearly…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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!

Planning requirements for proposed Natalia ambulance substation may postpone project

By Anton Riecher
Legal requirements governing the construction of government buildings in Texas may delay work on a Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 ambulance substation slated to be built in Natalia later this year.
By a vote of 4-0, the ESD4 board of commissioners voted April 9 to contact their attorney, Ken Campbell, for clarification on architecture requirements to assemble a pre-engineered metal building that would serve as the new sub-station.
EMS Director Jason Miller warned the board that hiring an architect or engineer to draw plans and specifications for the new structure could mean a considerable push back in the project timeline…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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 votes to update water, sewer mapping

By Anton Riecher
An agreement with an engineering consultant to update mapping of the water and sewer system in Lytle was approved by the city council Monday during its regular monthly meeting.
On a motion by District 3 Alderman David Emery, seconded by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez, the council approved an agreement with San Antonio-based Cobb, Fendley & Associates for phase one of a two-phase project to update the city’s capital improvement plan.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said the first phase will cover general mapping of the city’s water and sewer…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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 authorizes eminent domain in town citing “public necessity” in 3-0 vote

By Anton Riecher
This Monday, the Lytle City Council declared a “public necessity” to acquire right-of-way property along Railroad and McDonald streets for a new 12-inch water main. The action authorizes the city staff to move forward with eminent domain proceedings if the property cannot be acquired through purchase negotiations.
“We have sent initial offers for some easements that we need to acquire along that route because of the amount of utilities that are in this particular project,” City Administrator Zachary Meadows said…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online 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!

Devine “Water & sewer rate increases to be discussed”, another increase to hit in the fall

The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases” next Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine.
City leaders want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
“At a public hearing people are able to talk and the council and I too. We can have conversations,” said David Jordan, City of Devine Administrator.
“They will not be limited to 3 minutes per topic like a regular meeting. This will be a public hearing; it is called to hear from the citizens. They can ask questions of any of us and we can talk to them,” said Jordan.
“It’s a time to listen to the public and a time for us to explain how we got to this point, where we are trying to get to, why, the lack of small incremental raises in last 7 years that could have elevated the need for these bigger increases, and our deteriorating infrastructure. I was able to get a grant to cover the cost of a rate study from an outside professional source, Community Underling, instead of using our office staff so it would be unbiased and not look like we were just doing this because we wanted to,” said Jordan.
“The results of the study suggested we needed to do a onetime jump in rates, but the council voted to spread it out over two increases to help make it a easier on the customers. This was just to break even, not to gain momentum,” he said.
All interested parties, groups, or individuals are encouraged to attend this public hearing and participate in the discussion.
For more information, please contact the City of Devine at (830) 663-2804.
This Notice of Public Hearing comes after an outcry by citizens on the high rate increases that took effect in February and are set to increase again in the fall or October 1 of this year.
“We can take as long as we need for the public hearing. The regular meeting will begin immediately afterwards since it’s in the same location since it is the third Tuesday of the month,” said Jordan. More info in notice on page 5.

Devine tackles challenging water system upgrades

On March 19th, 2024, the Devine City Council approved a $2.5-million-dollar Certificate of Obligation to build a new $750K ground water storage tank. After further consultation it was decided to refurbish the existing 500k ground water storage tank, by replacing the roof, pressure washing, sand blasting and painting the tank.
Taking the time to rehab the existing tank rather than spending $2.5 million on a replacement, will allow the City to make much more progress and upgrades to water infastructure in Devine.
However, City administrator Jordan noted, “Due to their not being any concrete drawings of the existing infrastructure, the process to get this project started has been challenging…Our Public Works crews worked tirelessly using the hydro-vac machine to locate and expose all existing pipes, valves and connections entering the Warhorse ground water storage tank site.”
“This process has allowed the city to install inserta-valves and isolate the ground water storage tank and bypass into the elevated storage tank.”
The new system will now allow better control of water pressure with cut-off valves.
All city water will be redirected and flowed through the other water tower near the golf course for approximately four weeks until the tank and pumphouse project below the Warhorse tower is complete.
“The city has consulted with its engineers and tank specialist to identify any concerns. Our goal is taking all necessary precautions to avoid any interruption in water service to the community during this rehabilitation process.
The expected completion for this rehab project is at the end of June 2025.

Project Cinco reinvestment zone approved by Lytle council

By Anton Riecher
Property expected to be home to the proposed Project Cinco data center was designated a reinvestment zone by the Lytle City Council during a March 26 special meeting, the initial move required in anticipated tax abatement action set for April.
No comments were addressed to the council during the public hearing required before the reinvestment zone vote.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said establishing the reinvestment zone for the 440-acre site near the Coal Mine neighborhood is required under the Texas Tax Code.
“This is the first step in the request by Rowan Digital for purposes of pursuing an eventual tax abatement under (Section) 312,” he said.
On a motion by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez, seconded by District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes, the council voted 4-0 to approve the reinvestment zone. District 3 Alderman David Emery was absent for the vote.
Meadows suggested that the city council serve as the board of directors for the reinvestment zone.
Project Cinco is described as a “hyperscaler” undertaking – a large scale build-to-suit data center that will provide data storage and Cloud computing services to millions of users. Rowan hopes to break ground on its $500 million facility this summer, bringing nearly 600 construction jobs to the community.
The council voted in January to extend the city extraterritorial jurisdiction to include the Project Cinco property. 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.
Plans announced by Rowan call for requesting the city annex the property into the city limits proper.
In December, Medina County commissioners unanimously approved an 80 percent property tax break covering the initial 10 years of Project Cinco. Rowan predicts that the facility will yield a $3.6 billion economic impact on Medina County over 20 years.
It is also expected to yield tens of millions in tax revenue shared by Medina County, the city of Lytle, the Lytle and Natalia school districts and other local authorities. School districts may not enter into abatement agreements.
Action on the actual Lytle tax abatement is scheduled for April 28, Meadows 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!

City of Devine invites you to public hearing on Water & Sewer Rate Increases

“Another increase” to hit in fall

The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases”. They want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
They will hold a public hearing on this matter on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine, and precede the regular monthly meeting.
“At a public hearing people are able to talk and the council and I too. We can have conversations,” said David Jordan, City of Devine Administrator.

Continue reading “City of Devine invites you to public hearing on Water & Sewer Rate Increases”