Joint Special Meeting of Eagle Pass Governmental Entities Highlight Community Issues
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
A special joint meeting of local Eagle Pass and Maverick County governmental entities held on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, at the Eagle Pass International Center for Trade in Eagle Pass, Texas highlighted the key community issues and projects facing the growing region.
Participating in the joint special meeting were the Eagle Pass City Council, Maverick County Commissioners Court, Eagle Pass Independent School District, Eagle Pass Water Works System, Maverick County Hospital District, State Representative Heriberto Morales, Jr., Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center, and Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. called the joint special meeting to order. The first presentation on the agenda was by Eagle Pass Community Development and Planner, Placido Madera, regarding a status report on the newly formed Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Madera stated the purpose of the MPO is to have a regional entity responsible for all metropolitan transportation planning, including short, medium, and long-term planning. The Eagle Pass MPO becomes the 24th entity of its kind in Texas and will seek funding for all transportation projects from the federal government through the Texas Department of Transportation. The Eagle Pass MPO has $360,000 budget for the next two years to operate. The new MPO will enable Eagle Pass to compete for and receive greater funding for transportation projects in the community.
Eagle Pass Water Works System General Manager Jorge Barrera presented a presentation on the severe drought affecting the region and the lack of water in the Rio Grande River, the City of Eagle Pass sole source of potable water. Barrera stated EPWWS is working on developing a second source of water for Eagle Pass and Maverick County that is estimated to cost between $500 million to $1 Billion dollars and may take up to 5 to 10 years to receive approval and funding for it. Barrera noted that EPWWS has met with State Senator Perry to discuss the need for the second source of water supply needed for the community.
State Representative Heriberto Morales, Jr. briefed the meeting attendees on the legislative status on the expansion of Sul Ross State University-Rio Grande College into a full-fledged four year university (downward expansion) and the construction of the university in Eagle Pass. Morales noted that real estate developer Larry Levine donated 120 acres of land for the project, $500,000 for infrastructure costs, and the right of way on Eagle Pass Ranch Road for infrastructure development of the university. However, Morales added that the project is $800,000 short and seeking to obtain these funds.
Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas, Jr. noted the City Council had reaffirmed the City’s commitment of $1.5 million contribution to the project, while Maverick County is currently unable to provide any funding commitment to the project. However, Maverick County Commissioner Olga M. Ramos is researching the possibility of finding funds from county resources such as certificates of obligation that were previously approved. Ramos will update the group on whether county funding is available at the next meeting.
State Representative Morales stated that he will reintroduce legislation to have the downward expansion to a four year university again in the next legislative session, which passed the State House of Representatives and died on the last day of the session in the State Senate last year. Morales anticipates the legislation will be approved, although he noted that he anticipates Southwest Texas Junior College will once again object to it.
Local real estate developer and international businessman Morris Libson, Jr. suggested that the City needed to get the Donation Agreement with Larry Levine and the Construction Agreement finalized and approved to move forward on the four year university project.
Morales also briefed the meeting on the status of “private vouchers” in the State of Texas in the upcoming legislative session will be a battle between Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and Attorney General Ken Paxton versus House of Representative Speaker Dade Phelan and the state representatives. Texas ranks 43rd in the nation among all 50 states in public education and needs $35-40 Billion in additional funding to improve to the middle of the pack.
Morales further briefed the meeting attendees that “private vouchers” is “taking public education state funds to private schools without requiring them” to meet the same standards or checks and balances as public school districts. Morales opposes “private vouchers” and supports increasing pay for public education teachers in Texas.
Eagle Pass Independent School District Superintendent Samuel Mijares briefed the meeting on the public education needs, including seek state funds for Texas-Mexico border school districts to handle the increased needs caused by immigrants in the community, increased state funding for improvements on facilities, and seek a waiver of the state law against nepotism for rural school districts as small districts are facing a shortage of teachers. Mijares noted EPISD has 20 vacancies for teachers. Mijares added EPISD has not received increased state funding for facilities since 2019 and that the “private voucher” debacle is holding up everything. “Our facilities are dilapidated due to lack of state funding,” said Mijares.
County Commissioner Olga M. Ramos presented an update on the Maverick County International Memorial Airport, stating that on August 22, 2024 the Texas Aviation Administration through TxDOT will grant $6.9 million for costs associated with engineering costs and reconstruction of the runway at the airport.
Maverick County Hospital District Interim Chief Executive Officer Nestor Bonilla presented a status report of health care issues facing the local community, including the need to expand Medicaid in Texas, recruit new physicians to the community, develop a cancer treatment center, developing an agreement with Texas A & M University Health Science Center in bringing medical students do their residency at MCHD, and other issues.
Fort Duncan Regional Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Eladio Montalvo stated that it costs $1.5 million per year to provide emergency services to undocumented immigrants at the private hospital’s emergency room.
County Commissioner Olga M. Ramos noted that Maverick County had solicited funding from Operation Lone Star for water costs since Texas National Guard soldiers consume large amounts of water, but Maverick County’s request had been denied by Governor Abbott. Ramos added that water wells are drying up in Quemado, Texas, including at least 45 residential water wells have dried up to date due to the drought. Water is the key to all growth and development. EPWWS Jorge Barrera stated “there is not enough water in the Rio Grande River” right now due to the severe drought conditions.
A discussion was held regarding the need to find a real property and building donated to the Wintergarden Women‘s Shelter in Eagle Pass for Maverick County residents who are victims of domestic violence in the community to provide them counseling, temporary housing, and legal protection.
