Raul Trevino, Jr. Sworn-In as Maverick County Water Control & Improvement District No. 1 Board of Director
By: Jose G. Landa
Copyright 2013 Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
Former Eagle Pass Mayor Raul Trevino, Jr. was officially sworn-in as a Board of Director of the Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 (M.C.W.C.I.D. No. 1) on Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at the Regular Board meeting held at the District Office located at 1622 Maverick Industrial Park Road at the Radar Base in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Newly sworn-in Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 Board of Director Raul Trevino, Jr. was appointed to the local water district board by Maverick County Commissioners Court on Monday, December 9th, after the water district board became dead-locked in a 2-2 vote of naming a replacement of resigned Board of Director Abdallah Moses after four different attempts and votes.
Trevino was sworn-in by Maverick County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 General Manager Cynthia Martinez who administered the Oath of Office. Trevino stated that he looked forward to working with the Board of Directors.
During recogniton of visitors, George Baxter, Vice-President of the Maverick County Environmental and Public Health Association, presented an update to the local water district Board of Directors regarding the recent December 3rd public hearing by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers concerning a Regional Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed expansion of the Dos Republicas Coal Partnership’s Eagle Pass Mine. Baxter stated that the Dos Republicas open surface coal mine which is currently permitted by the Railroad Commission of Texas for 6,700 acres is seeking to expand up to 25,000 acres in the future according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers public hearing held in Uvalde, Texas. Also speaking during visitors recognition were Gabriel De La Cerda and Ladye Herring.
The M.C.W.C.I.D. No. 1 Board of Directors approved to deny the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority’s proposed settlement offer of $24,394 for the illegal use of water from the local water district canal lateral adjacent to the Maverick County Landfill since the county landfill’s construction in 2009 until late 2012 when it was discovered. The alleged wrongful use of water by the Maverick County Landfill is estimated to have been over $200,000 but the M.C.W.I.D. No. 1 Board approved an amicable settlement proposal of $60,210 but the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority Board approved a counter-settlement proposal of $24,394. The M.C.W.I.D. No. 1 Board approved to reject the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority Board’s counter-settlement offer of $24,394, return the $24,394 M.C.S.W.A. check for the counter-settlement offer, and insist that they pay the $60,210 amount already discounted from the over $200,000 water use bill. The M.C.S.W.A.’s Maverick County Landfill management and staff allegedly took water from the local water irrigation district’s main water canal near El Indio, Texas adjacent to the landfill without authorization from and payment of the water from the M.C.W.C.I.D. No. 1. This issue has been a source of dispute and contention between the two local county entities and boards for over a year now.
Another agenda item discussed was Teodoro Cano’s request for assistance regarding the closure of a water lateral ditch on the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas-owned Faye Martin real property in Rosita Valley used to obtain water to his five acres tract, denying Cano access to the water district’s water for irrigation to his real property. Cano was represented by local attorney Felipe Hernandez of the Knickerbocker, Heredia, Jasso & Stewart law firm. After hearing Cano and Hernandez’s presentation and reviewing the matter and consulting with legal counsel Crawford Rhodes, the M.C.W.I.D. No. 1 Board decided that it was not a water district issue and advised Cano and Hernandez to speak to the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas to clear up the closing of the water lateral ditch provided for as an easement on Cano’s deed to his real property. Cano and Hernandez thanked the Board for their attention to their issue.
Another issue approved by the M.C.W.C.I.D. No. 1 Board of Directors was the selection of the Law Offices of Ricardo E. Calderon as their new General Counsel for the local water district.
The M.C.W.C.I.D. No. 1 Board of Directors also approved not to provide major medical health insurance coverage to their employees due to the significant price increase for 2013-2014 by their private health insurance carrier and the water district had less than 50 employees to comply with the Affordable Care Act. Water District employees will have to seek and obtain health insurance coverage for 2013-2014 in the general marketplace under the Affordable Care Act.
Another issue approved by the Board was to award a proposal for inspection of the Hydro-Plant’s penstocks to the lowest bidder for the estimated amount of $25,000-$30,000.
The Board also tabled to take action on the reinstatement and amendment to Section 2.1 of the water district’s operating rules previously suspended on December 2002.
