The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 23, 1988 Page: 1 of 8
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r ' OGRANDI HERALD
Serving Starr County For Five Decades
H.E.B
Inserts
Inside
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Published in Rio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday By The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
NO. 33 THURSDAY JUNE 23,1988
FIFTEEN CENTS
f
ourt Debates Subdivisions; Okays Modified Regulation
S
By KENNETH ROBERTS
After vigorous debate throughout
the day Monday, the Commission-
ers' Court accepted a modified
version of the proposed subdivision
regulations advocated by a citizens
committee, which left several
committee members saying that
they do not consider the final
regulations strong enough.
However, committee members
generally expressed the sentiments
that the regulations finally adopted
are a positive first step
County Judge J.M. Martinez. Jr.,
said, "1 feel good about what was
accomplished .1 don't feel as I
could, but it is a good start I would
have liked to see a planning and
zoning commission established. We
should involve our citizens in
dealing with the problems of the
county."
Committee member Rene Mon-
talvo told The Rio Grande Herald
on Tuesday, "The majority of the
items were passed. I would have
liked to have seen everything pass.
I was disappointed that the plann-
ing and zoning board was taken
out. I don't think it would have
taken away any power from the
commissioners It (the approved
regulations) is a step in the right
direction.
One committee member in
particular, Joel Guerrero, Jr., told
the commissioners that they were
I
\
V
1
Five housing officials who appeared at Friday night's banquet of the Housing
Association of Valley Employees (HAVE) in Rio Grande City are pictured above.
From left to right are Apolonio Flores, executive director of the San Antonio
Housing Autnority; Roy Navarro, assistant directoi f' i the Pharr Housing
Authority and incoming Vice-President of HAVE; Irrr.a Solitaire, incoming
President of HAVE; Noel Gonzalez of Rio Grande City, outgoing President of
HAVE; and Hollis Rutledge of Fort Worth, the HI O assistant regional director
for Region Six.
Valley Housing Employees
Hold Banquet In Rio
The Housing Association of
Valley Employees (HAVE) held
their annual banquet in Rio Grande
City at the KC Hall Friday night
The banquet by HAVE has been
held on an annual basis since 1963
According to Noel Gonzalez of Rio
Grande City, who is the outgoing
President of HAVE, 1988 is the first
time that Rio Grande City has
hosted the HAVE banquet.
Gonzalez indicated that approxi-
mately 250 persons were present
for the banquet, mostly employees
of Valley Housing Authorities, but
also city commissioners, mayors,
1 V
La Victoria Residents
Upset At Water Problems
:itv
, T*.
t City
La Victoria residents converged
on City Hall in La Grulla Friday to
express their dissatisfaction with
recent and severe water shortages
in their area, but Grulla city
officials contend that the problem
will go a long way toward being
solved when the new city water
plant is ready and functioning
Joanna Rivera of La Victoria
said, "It's imperative that we have
A water m order to be alive, healthy,
and functioning."
One woman from La Victoria
said, "I go all the way to Santa
Cruz Ranch to get water We have
fo go to the laundromat to wash our
clothes, and we have washing
machines When we are in Rio or
Mission, we have to ask friends if
we can take a shower This is
degrading "
• Elena Solis said. "We've been
almost completely without water
for the past two months "
Many residents of Garcia's
Camp. Alto Bonito, Olmito Farms,
and La Victoria Ranch have
requested that the city of Grulla
make adjustments in its policies
concerning water distribution
Grulla City Councilman Rene
Martinez told The Rio Grande
Herald Tuesday, "We are almost 95
percent finished with the new
water jlant in Grulla We'll be
there very soon, hopefully in a
week or two. I have seen the
contractor working hard We will
provide water and the problem will
be solved.'
Martinez added, "We have had
too much heat and too little rain
For the past two weeks, we have
been shutting off the water at 9:30
p.m. to make the water available
to La Victoria area."
Concerning the citizens' sugges-
tion that water usage in Grulla be
regulated through ruling out
watering of lawns, washing cars,
and filling pools, Martinez com-
mented, "If there are any delays
(in finishing the plant), we'll have
to do that
Martinez said, "There are al-
ready six-inch lines from Alto
Bonito to La Victoria The tank in
La Victoria can hold 394,000 gal-
lons. The ground storage tank in
Grulla will hold 125,000 gallons. The
pond in Grulla will be able to hold
2.5 million gallons of drinkable
water There is already water in
the pond that will be used for
(See W \TKR. Page II
)
CAsneros Agrees To Speak
At Rio Chamber Banquet
leClty
If City
San Antonio Mayor Henry Cis-
neros has accepted the invitation of
the Rio Grande City Chamber of
Commerce to speak at the organi
zation's annual banquet in January
1989
Gigi Gutierrez, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, informed
The Rio Grande Herald on Friday
that Cisneros had accepted the
Chamber's invitation to speak at
the January 22.1989 banquet
Cisneros has served as mayor of
San Antonio since 1981 Over the
years, speculation has been ram
pant that he is a serious possibility
for such high offices as Governor.
U.S. Senator, and Vice-President
Gutierrez indicates that even
though the banquet is many months
away, the Chamber intends to
begin serious planning for the
event in the near future
and housing board members.
County Commissioner Jose Maria
"Chema" Alvarez and County
Court-At Law Judge Alex W
Gabert represented the Starr Coun-
ty government at the banquet.
Judge Gabert gave the welcoming
speech.
Gonzalez said, "It was an eve-
ning of pleasure and relaxation
Every city in the Valley was
represented from Brownsville to
Rio Grande City "
The theme of the banquet was "A
Western Jamboree." Music was
provided by Burning Ember, a
Valley group
Noel Gonzalez, manager of the
Starr County Housing Authority,
was master of ceremonies for the
event.
Hollis Rutledge of Fort Worth,
HUD assistant regional director for
Region 6, and Apolonio Flores,
executive director of the San
Antonio Housing Authority
addressed the crowd.
Both Rutledge and Flores dis
cussed the future for funding of
housing, and expressed optimism
about obtaining more funding for
Valley housing. Gonzalez said,
"They plan to lobby in Washington
for funds for Section 8 vouchers <a
rent-subsidy program) and for
low-rent housing (new construc-
tion)."
At the banquet, certificates were
given to Housing Authorities who
have hosted meetings, and to
Housing Authority directors and
deputy directors who have been
active throughout the year
Gonzalez commented, "I hope we
can establish an even better
rapport with the HUD people, and
obtain more and better housing for
our Valley citizens "
Gonzalez noted that HAVE cov-
ers all housing authorities from
Brownsville to Laredo, and north to
Falfurrias
Gonzalez noted that in 1989, the
Texas Housing Authority Associa-
tion will be holding their annual
convention at South Padre Island,
with HAVE serving as the hosts
This year, the state convention will
be in Wichita Falls
Gonzalez noted. "Meetings of
HAVE are held every two months
(at different Housing Authorities>.
A regular HAVE meeting was held
in Rio last vear "
violating state law with at least two
adjustments they made to the
regulations.
Guerrero said at Monday's meet-
ing, "You all would probably be
committing malfeasance of office.
State law requires a minimum of
7200 square feet per lot if they don't
have a sewage line. You have
refused to follow that even though
it has been pointed out re-
peatedly."
Guerrero insisted, "Public of-
ficials who knowingly violate a
state law is inexcusable You
cannot claim ignorance of the
fact."
He contended that the court
would be violating House Bill 1875
pertaining to the minimum size of
lots which lack sewage, and also
when regulations would become
effective concerning sewage on
half-acre lots.
On Tuesday, Judge Martinez said
he would ask the County Attorney
to check with the Texas Attorney
General's office to see if any aspect
of the regulations finally approved
are in any way contrary to state
law
On Wednesday, Guerrero told
The Herald that the main problem
may be that "the people may build
not knowing what the state law is.
The state could then come in and
adjust to state standards. The
homeowner would be the one
getting into trouble. The Commis-
sioners' Court has the chance to
make sure that everything flows
right from here on."
Guerrero and another committee
member indicated that the state
regulations on lot size and for
sewerage on half-acre lots can be
adopted on an individual county
basis until Sept 1, 1989, when the
state would take over enforcement.
Guerrero insisted at Monday's
meeting, 'Some of you may have
political IOU's you have to pay. I
don't think you should pay them at
the cost of the taxpayers."
Precinct Three Commissioner
Eloy Garza was angered by this
Guerrero statement, and retorted.
"It seems to me like you have
commitments with big devel-
opers Precinct Two Com-
missioner Amando Pena insisted
that the court was accepting most
of the regulations proposed by the
committee
As the debate neared its end late
Monday afternoon, after meetings
at 9 and 11 a m and 4 p.m. to
discuss the subdivision regulations,
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
declared, "It's evident that the
minds of the majority of the court
are made up."
The judge added, "I would like to
see some things in here that have
been deleted It is a starting point.
This is amendable at a later date."
Precinct Four Commissioner
Reynaldo "Moreno" Alaniz com-
mented, "How many years have
we lived here without anything?"
He expressed his support for
regulations, but added, "We don't
want to kill off the subdividers. We
want people to move into the
county."
Alaniz continued, "Some of these
things would be impossible to have
in Starr County. I congratulate the
committee on their work. We're
willing to work with you in the
future."
After the meeting, Guerrero told
The Herald, "I think it (the
approved regulations) is a big step
forward even though I object to the
deletion of the items incorporated
into House Bill 1875 to protect the
poor people in the colonias."
Guerrero added, "I would con-
sider it a 75 to 80 percent victory ."
When discussion began shortly
after 9 a.m. Monday, Leonel
"Nene" Lopez, chairman of the
13-member committee-, told the
court, "We compiled this into a
smaller version than we presented
in the workshop. It's almost like
the city of Roma's regulations."
The regulations were first un-
veiled at a public workshop held by
the commissioners on Wednesday,
May 18.
Commissioner Pena suggested
that the meeting be recessed until
11 a.m. to allow more detailed
reading of the regulations. When
the meeting resumed, Pena told the
committee, "We're going to accept
most of these recommendations,
with a few exceptions."
Pena then suggested that Com-
missioner Alaniz, committee
(See REGULATIONS. Page 7)
Hurdles Cleared On
FmHA Loan-Grant
All problems have apparently
been cleared up concerning the
Farmers Home Administration
loan-grant of $325,000 for the port
facilities expansion in Roma.
Federal Program Coordinator
Javier Margo told the Commission-
ers' Court on Monday, "We have
this loan resolution, we met with
FHA and were able to resolve the
item. It looks like everything is on
the go."
Margo told the court, "The
$325,000 loan-grant is for the toll
facilities at the Roma bridge."
The commissioners passed a
motion okaying the loan resolution
of FmHA. and anoitier resolution
authorized the County Judge to
execute all documents pertaining to
the loan-grant.
At the June 13 meeting of the
Commissioners' Court, Margo in-
formed the court that FmHA had
demanded that the county not
transfer any revenues from the
bridge for use in administering
county government. At that time,
Margo said, "I don't think it's
justifiable at all for the funds to be
tied up." Other members of the
court expressed the same senti-
ments.
On the matter of the bond
attorney, Margo said, "We are
working with Jaworski and
Fulbright on the bond. The firm is
based in Washington and Dallas.
The fee is regulated by FHA."
The commissioners then voted to
hire the firm of Jaworski and
Fulbright for the portion of the port
facilities project that will be
covered by the FmHA loan-grant.
The court then okayed a change
order for the Fort Ringgold Park
Project. Engineer Pablo Pena said
the change order covered items
requested by the Park Board and
other xani la tions
Pena said "This is work that is
proposed. I think the price is in
order.' He said that the change
order .iicluded putting new topsoil
on and reseeding Field Number
Three, and installing safety
features on the lights.
Precinct Two Commissioner
Amando Pena questioned the price,
but the engineer responded, "The
other bids that came in were
considerably higher than this one."
Concerning Project Number
706519, for rural paving, Pablo
Pena told the court, "One street in
particular was lacking some work
(by Mission Paving). I asked
(See HI KDLKS.Pupe 3)
Food Pantry Adds VISTA Worker
The Starr County Food Pantry-
has added their third full-time
worker that will be paid out of
VISTA program funds, and is also
planning a fundraiser for July 4.
Gigi Gutierrez of the Pantry said,
"We are going to receive one more
VISTA worker. That will give us
our third VISTA worker Austin has
approved this. She (the worker)
will be going to school in early
July."
About the status of other Pantry
activities, Gutierrez said, "We're
still looking for someone to donate
an acre of land. "
In early February, the Food
Pantry moved into temporary
facilities at the old Starr County
Courthouse on Water Street
Gutierrez said at that time, "This
is temporary. We are trying for a
grant. We want our own building.
We need more space. I'm asking
for a 3000-square foot building,
because that's what we need."
In the present location, the
Pantry has 1000 square feet of
space available, compared to 3000
square feet in their previous
building located on East Mam
Street
Gutierrez told The Rio Grande
Herald on Friday. "There is a
program available that 1 would like
to start in September The program
provides ESL and GED classes.
The student has an opportunity to
make a small stipend to take 12
hours of classes per week This is a
morning class."
She suggested, "The Food Pantry
needs an advisory board, com-
prised of people knowledgeable
about food programs and programs
designed to help the elderly. We
need to help the shut-in ''
Gutierrez added, "We really need
a computer system We serve 2000
to 3000 people yearly," She said
that 2000 needy persons are served
with cash monies from programs
through agencies such as FEMA,
and the remaining 1000 are pro-
vided canned food through the
Pantry.
Gutierrez stressed that the
Pantry has a large-scale fundraiser
planned for July 4, a Monday. She
said that the fundraiser will be at
the Fort Ringgold County Park,
and that non-profit organizations
are invited and encouraged to
participate She added, "All non-
profit groups are invited to sell
food, and carry on games "
The fundraiser will take place
from 5 to 9 p.m. on July 4.
Gutierrez said that the Texas
Lightning Band and Friends will
perform Booths for the fundraiser
will be $15 each.
Gutierrez said there will be a
beauty pageant, and a chiii cookoff,
if a chairman can be found for the
latter event. She added that there
is the possibility of a parade on
July 4 if a chairman can be found
Gutierrez said that anyone inter-
ested in further information about
the fundraiser should contact her
at 487-3052 or Tavo Hernandez at
487-5122. Persons interested in the
beauty pageant should contact
Herbie Villarreal at 487-8984
The Starr County Food Pantry's VISTA program
workers are pictured above. Pictured above, from left to
right, are VISTA workers Lupita Cantu, Benilde Barrera
and Celia Villarreal, and Glgl Gutierrei of the Pantry.
Lupita Cantu Is the Pantry's newest VISTA worker.
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 33, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 23, 1988, newspaper, June 23, 1988; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195138/m1/1/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.