Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 2, 1972 Page: 9 of 24
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UNITED STATES POSTAL SERViCE
JULY 1 1971
V" l'J7! Jj/
A Letter
To The Editor
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1972 THE RIO GRANDE HERALD PAGE 9 I-jlOtlS-JQs
Dear Mr. Ceballos:
This Is reference to a recent meeting that Mr. Nino Gutierrez and
Mr. Reuben Guerra attended with the Rio Grande City Chamber of
Commerce, and an editorial concerning that meeting that appeared
in the October 19 issue of the Rio Grande Herald. To clear the re-
cord concerning ttiis matter, the following comments are offered.
On May 14, 1970, the Starr County Commissioners' Court passed
a resolution requesting the Texas Highway Department to initiate
advance planning studies to determine the most feasible and prac-
tical route to develop U.S. Highway 83 into a divided highway. This
request was based on the high present and future traffic volume
and also because of the high accident and fatality rate which have
been experienced on the existing U.S. Highway 83.
On July 1970, the Highway Commission authorized the State
Highway Engineer to proceed with engineering social economic and
environmental studies necessary to hold a route public hearing and
to report back to the Highway Commission with recommendation
for such improvements.
Based on the above request and authority, we proceeded with ne-
cessary route studies. On April 10, 1972, in company of Messrs.
Reuben R. Guerra and Ramiro Salazar, I met with the Starr County
Commissioners' Court. Mr. Guerra described and pointed out on a
map three possible route locations giving an explanation of the gen-
eral criteria used to determine these locations.
During the meeting a discussion took place regarding Highway De-
partment policy that requires the County to participate with the State
on a 00-DO basis in the cost of obtaining the required new right of
waj. It was also explained to the cour that two public hearings would
be required, a route and a design hearing, and that a resolution from
the County would be required to get this procedures started.
This same day, the Starr County Commissioners' Court passed a
resolution requesting the Texas Highway Department to conduct pub-
lic hearings in Rio Grande City and Roma in order to give the citi-
zens of Starr County an opportunity to voice their views of the var-
ious routes that were being studied in connection with U.S. 83.
Following the April loth meeting, we continued our route location
studies. During these studies another possible location was devel-
oped which was in essence a combination of two of the three original
routes presented to the County Commissioners at the April meeting.
On August 14, 1972, in company of Messrs. R.W. Hanna and Reu-
ben Guerra of the Highway Department, I met once again with the
Starr County Commissioners' Court. At this meeting we presented
a map showing routes we were studying and preliminary cost data
of the various route. At this meeting the Commissioners' Court
indicated their thoughts that the northernmost route shown on the
map was the most practical, however, any decisions regarding a
final location would be delayed until after public hearings were held
and the public afforded an opportunity to express their views.
I would like to point out to the Chamber members that all of the
meetings we have had with your County officials have been open to
the public. At no time has the Texas Highway Department held or
attempted to hold any secret meetings with your County officials or
for that matter with anyone else.
At this time we are still preparing environmental rei>orts and
detailed cost estimates covering all the possible routes. Please be
aware that preparation of these route studies, estimates and en-
vironmental reports are very time consuming. They cannot be
done in a haphazard manner because of their importance. The
final location of the route may well be based on these studies. Con-
sequently, it is in everyone's best interest that the studies be
thorough.
Upon completiong of the environmental reports, the Department
will conduct public hearings in Rio Grande City and Roma in order
to allow the local citizens an opportunity to express their views on
the alternate or possible routes under study. It is quite possible
that other feasible combination routes may come to our attention
as a result of the hearing. Prior to conducting the first hearing
and upon completiong of our route studies, representatives of this
office will be pleased to show the studies to the Chamber of Com-
merce, local civic cblus or any other group. In this manner local
civic groups may better prepare themselves to express the senti-
ments of the membership at the public hearing if they so desire.
When our studies are complee Reuben Guerra will be pleased to
arrange such meeting with the Chamber of Commerce at a time
suitable to you.
We look forward to working with the citizens of Starr County to-
wards ultimate development of this badly needed facility. Naturally,
the Texas Highway Department must work witti local government
to establish routes such as this. In the case of U.S. 83 the Starr
County Commissioners' Court is the appropriate representative
local governmental agency to work with since the County will have
to participate on a 50-50 basis in the cost of acquiring the addition-
al required right of way.
As explained by Messrs. Guerra and Gutierrez, there is no route
location determined at this time and there cannot be one until public
hearing requirements and environmental issues are resolved. No
plans have been developed other than the possible routes described
by Mrs. Guerra to your group.
With regard to the proposed El Sauz Road (Farm to Market Road
31G7), in one of our previous meetings with the Commissioners'
Court a route location was presented and approved by the Commis-
sioners' Court. However, we have been requested by the County,
because of the new hospital plans, torestudy the route with ttie pos-
sbility of the road passing near the proposed hospital location. This
request is presently under study but again, a public hearing will be
offered to the citizens of Starr County in order for them to express
their views prior to finalizing the route for this new FM road.'
At this point, permit me to express a personal viewpoint. Since
1948 Starr County has been most fortunate in having a very capable
dedicated Highway Department engineer serve as resident engineer
for your area. Mr. Reuben Guerra has been with the'Department
40 years and It is my opinion that no one knows the transportation
needs and local conditions better than he. He Is dedicated to the
development of as fine a highway system as possible for Starr
County and I would urge that you cooperate and give him an oppor-
tunity to work alongside of you just as he works alongside the var-
ious governmental agencies in his area, so that the best interest
of the citizenship as a whole can be served.
Sincerely,
R.E. Stotzer, Jr.
District Engineer
EDITOR'S NOTE — The Herald again wishes to clarify that we did
not and have not taken a position of the routing we feel would best
help the mercliants and the citizens of Rio Grande City. We at no
time accused the Texas Highway Department of holding any secret
meetings and at no time have we stated that a definite route had
been picked. After much discussion with Dr. Mario Ramirez it
was explained that although a definite route has not been picked
our editorial states that those Starr County Commissioners minutes
state that the court has expressed a desire for one particular route
subject to public desire. This is a point that was indeed denied by
the two highway representatives. They also did indeed deny that a
map was in existence stating that after feeling out public sentiment
a preliminary map would be drawn up. We don't want to throw any
shadow over a project that would help this community but we feel
that if Texas Highway representatives are going to speak to the Rio
Grande City Chamber of Commerce than those two representatives
should have been prepared to present all, ALL the facts in the mat-
ter. We also do not question Mr. Gutierrez' or Mr. Guerra's dedi-
cation to their work, we know Mr. Guerra to be a good and decent
man but we must also face the fact that when you pass out half-
information there is cause for question . . . and that is why we
questioned that talk l>efore the Rio Grande City Chamber of Com-
merce.
in joint
project
The Rio Grande City Lions
Club and Jaycees plan to begin
soon on a joint effort to devel-
op the area near their clubhous-
es on Fairground Road. Space
lias been cleared for a commu-
nity recreation area including
a Pony League field.
The Jaycees, who meet on
Wednesdays at 8:00 during foot-
ball season, have several new
projects. The Jaycees will co-
ordinate the parade for the
Christmas Fiesta '72 and will
sponsor a teen dance at the
Multi-Purpose Center after the
Beauty Pagent during ttie Fies-
ta.
The Jaycees are also com-
mitted to help witli the Easter
Seal Fund Raising Drive for
children with physical defi-
ciencies. As the Jaycee creed
states, "Service to humanity
is the best work of life."
Also being planned are a Ju-
nior High basketball tourna-
ment for seventh, eighth, and
ninth graders and a Special
Olympics track meet for special
education students.
i i* J
M- &
i
from days of old...
The First Slate Bank
and Trust Company
HAS BEEN SERVING THE NEEDS
OF ALL OUR CUSTOMERS FOR
A LONG TIME... BEFORE CARS
CAME TO RIO GRANDE CITY
FIRST STATE BANK
and trust company
KIO grand*: (in
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Trejo, Raul. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 21, No. 43, Ed. 1 Thursday, November 2, 1972, newspaper, November 2, 1972; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth194379/m1/9/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.