Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 30, 2004 Page: 1 of 6
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THURSDAY
WEEKLY
EDITION
September 30, 2004
91st YEAR No. 40
#215
IIOACi H(X)K BINDERY
127 KAII. ROAD
SI'RINGI'ORT, Ml 49204
ZorV U>
Rio Grande
i «j .r v n
A Newspaper Serving the People of South Texas
Aldermen vote to state disappointment with water infrastructure engineers
*
Rattler Band 2004-2005 Drum Majors named
The Rio Grande City Mighty Rattler Band takes pride in announcing their 2004-2005 Drum Majors. The four
• that vere chosen are seniors and will lead the band at all school-related events and competitions. The 2004-
2005 Drum Majors are pictured left to right Lee Roy Calderon, Jennilee Garza, Melinda Barrera and Josephine
Ecle. (RGCCISD photo).
County okays advertising by bond
advisors for courthouse annex financing
At their special meeting on
.Monday afternoon, Sept. 13, the
jcounty Commissioners voted to
|authorize the bond advisors recently
retained by the county to advertise
for the sale ot almost $7 million in
'(bonds so the county can move
jforward with the Courthouse Annex
and other planned undertakings.
On Aug. 6, the commissioners
voted to approve a financing
proposal intended to set in motion
the construction of a Courthouse
jAnnex, the remodeling of the
current courthouse and the
refinancing of the current debt for
?the International Biidge at Roma
j The financing effort is being
^directed by RBC Dain Rauscher. a
• San Antonio-based firm. Robert V.
Henderson, Managing Director of
the Municipal Fixed Income
Division for Public Finance, is
playing a leadership role in RBC
jDain Rauscher's effort.
I
i County Judge Hloy Vera
explained to The Rio Grande Herald
on Friday, Sept. 24, "We authorized
a maximum ceiling of $7 million,
but we don't anticipate reaching
•tlisl leve'
One change in the package, he
indicated, is that "we will be
refinancing the jail, at a lower rate.
Tins should save about $75,000 per
year. It will be refinanced at a 3.5
percent interest rate."
Vera noted, "We have just three
years remaining on the jail debt.
Under this arrangeme-.i, v.c :an still
pay off the jail debt vithin tne three
years as originally planned."
Vera added, "We're also
refinancing the bridge. Right now
we're paying at a rate of almost 8
percent, and we think we can
refinance this at a rate of 3 1/2 to 3
3/4 percent."
"We will be seeking $2 million
-for the Courthouse Annex, $1
million for the remodeling of the
courthouse, and $800,000 for
building new facilities in the
commissioners' precincts," the
judge pointed out. "The rest will be
to lennance old debts at a
significant savings."
Vera emphasized, "Not only will
we be saving money by doing this,
it will free up almost $500,000 in
bridge revenues that we were using
to pay bridge debts Now the bridge
debts will be paid out of I & S
(Interest and Sinking). These
particular notes pertain to the port
facilities and involve the work that
was done in the late 1980's and
early 1990's."
Vera concluded, "This will free
up more monies to better serve the
needs of our citizens. This will take
us to a new level of financial
stability and quality services."
In August, Vera declared that the
(See FINANCING, Page 6)
j m iTWi' .--i - • "-
^RGC, Grulla show increases in
2004 sales tax rebates
On Monday, Sep! 13, State
Comptroller Carole Keeton
Strayhorn delivered monthly sales
jtax rebates to 1123 cities and 122
^counties, with Rio Grande City and
Grulla recording substantial
increases from the September 2003
sales tax rebates.
The City of Rio Grande City's
September 2004 rebate check of
$189,119.37 is 6.72 percent higher •
than the September 2003 rebate
check of $177,199.68. For the first
nine months of 2004, Rio Grande
City has received $1,906,687.97 in
rebate checks, an increase of 3.98
percent from the $1,833,573.43
received during the same reporting
period of 2003.
The City of Roma's September
2004 rebate check of $63,679.96 is
1.92 percent lower than the
September 2003 rebate check of
$64,928.84. Thus far in 2004,
Roma has received $655,602.57 in
rebate checks, an increase of 1.67
percent from the $644,829.27
received during the same reporting
period of 2003.
The City of Grulla received a
September 2004 rebate check of
$614.95, an increase of 10.96
percent from the September 2003;
rebate check of $554.17. For 2004
to date, Grulla has received
$8583.78 in rebate checks, an
City of RGC seeks photos
(in preparing 2005 calendar
Street Coordinator at (956) 488-
The City of Rio Grande City
will be producing their 2005
calendar within the next few weeks.
In order to make this a truly unique
calendar, the city would like to
include photographs from local
residents.
If you have any historic
^pictures or photographs that you
feel captures the spirit of Rio Grand
City and would like to contribute it
ror consideration in the 2005
calendar, please contact Mauro
Villarreal, Rio Grande City Main*
0047 or lidel Trevino Jr, Public
Information Director at (956) 487-
06/2.
C1' (-*•*■ i!
SE u ii— —
Photogiaphs will not be harmed
and may be returned. All the city
asks is for your permission to
reproduce the photographs for the
calendar I"he city thanks all of you
for r cooperati nd looks
forward to working with the City's
residents to produce a remarkable
calendar
By KENNETH ROBERTS
At their regular monthly meeting
on Thursday night, Sept. 23, the
Rio Grande City Board of Aldermen
voted 3-1 to authorize the City
Administrator to express in writing
the city's dissatisfaction with the
overall progress achieved by the
engineering firm handling the plans
and design for the planned new
water and wastewater plants.
The vote came after an executive
session that lasted almost an houi.
The executive session was posted to
deal with this issue and several
other matters.
The posted agenda item called for
"Consideration and possible action
to authorize the City Administrator
to reaffirm to CDM in writing that
of the city's continuing
dissatisfaction with CDM's overall
progress with Phase I of the
Standard Form of Agreement and to
express the City's reservation of
rights under the Standard Form."
Aldermen Ruben D. Saenz, Frank
Gutierrez and Manuel Canales voted
■to authorize the letter expressing
dissatisfaction, while Alderman
.Ruben O. Villarreal voted to
oppose the motion.
Mayor Pro Tem Manuel Canales
presided over the meeting in the
absence of Mayor Baldemar Garza.
Alderman Hernan Garza also was
inot present.
The Sept. 23 meeting came about
after three previously posted
meetings on Sept. 8, Sept. 15 and
Sept. 20 were canceled due to lac1
of a quorum.
After the executive session. City
Administrator Leonardo Olivares
declared, "Phase One should be
completed by Oct. I. There are
issues with work product and
delays, and there were issues with
personnel in the past."
Alderman Villarreal insisted, "I
don't feel dissatisfaction_has been
documented. We're within a week
of having Phase One completed. I
feel we should give them until
Phase One is completed."
"They're working on the city's
most important projects, projects
that are the cornerstone of the city's
economic development,"
commented Villarreal. "I feel the
dissatisfaction should have been
documented months ago. There
have been problems. The decision
depends on the will of the board."
Villarreal added, "They have had
some problems. We're aware of the
transitions they've gone through.
They're within a week of
completing Phase One. I told them
(previously) I would give them
through Phase One."
Olivares contended, "They
(CDM) have been submitted nine*
pages of documentation. B.E.C.C.
(Border Environmental Cooperation
Commission) agrees about the lack
of progress. There is no
dissatisfaction until the board
makes a statement. We're telling
our consultant we have the right to
determine our future as a city."
"Neither you nor I can speak for
B.E.C.C," responded Villarre. 1. "If
(See ALDERMEN, Page 6)
City of RGC
to launch website.
One of the oldest, most historic
cities in Texas has joined the
Information Superhighway by
launching its official municipal
website.
"Rio Grande City is now open
for business 24/7," said Manuel
Canales, Mayor Pro Tem "We can
now urovi le basic information to
[ dors, businesses and
lis vho want to know
opk
our p
other indiv i
more about
"The sii
market o>
Alderman I
just as con
communi
anothe
: uu
oth
tool to
r\" said
"We are
:r, larger
site.
www.ci. rio-grande-'
city.tx.us. will b" maintained by
the City's Information Director, j
Fidel Trevino, who also manages
the Rio Grande Cable Network
(RGCN-12).
"This is another part of our
continuing efforts to provide open,
government to all our residents and
other stakeholders wherever they
may be," said Leo Olivares. City
Administrator Rio Grande City's
website will be operational on
Sept. 30, 2004.
The site was developed by
Mc Allen-based Internet site
(See \VEBSI1K, Page 6)
T" . . 7"V"
RGC nominated for National
Historic District status
.V.J
increase of 30.63 percent from the
$6570.90 received during the same
reporting period of 2003.
On Sept. 13, Comptroller
Strayhorn delivered $241.8 million
in monthly sales tax payments to
' 1123 Texas cities and 122 counties,1
an 6.4 percent increase compared to
the $227.3 million allocated in
September 2003.
September sales tax rebates |
include local sales taxes collected in \
July and reported to the,
; Comptroller in August.
August state sales tax revenue isl
also based on sales that occurred in
'July.
The sales tax rebates included
$222.4 million to Texas cities, 6.5
percent higher than the September
2003 payments of $208.9 million.'
^ For the 2004 calendar year to date,'
city sales tax allocations are!
f
running 8.2 percent higher than for;
the same period in 2003.
Texas counties received
September 2004 sales tax rebates of
$19.4 million, an increase of 5.2
percent compared to the September
2003 figure of $18.4 million. For
the calendar year to date, county
sales tax allocations are 8.2 percent
_ higher than in 2C33.
Another $9 million went to 87
special purpose taxing districts
around the state, a 11.9 percent
incrcase compared to September
(See RFRATES, PaRe 6)1
On Sept 25, the National
Register staff of the Texas
Historical Commission considered
Rio Grande City's nomination as a
National Historic District at a
public meeting at the Multipurpose
Center.
"This nomination shows the hard
work that our City's Historical
Preservation Commission has done
to ensure that our City receives
national recognition," said
Alderman Frank Gutierrez. "We
would like to thank the Texas
Historical Commission State Board
of Review for their consideration of
our nomination."
The National Register is a record
^of our past and a planning base for
our future. It is the official federal
list of districts, sites, buildings
structures, and objects important in
American history, architecture,
archeology, engineering, and
culture. The National Register is a
national program, but its listings
can have significance to the history
of your local community, the state
of Texas, or the nation
"The Register is administered in
Texas through a federal/state
partnership of the National Park
Service (NPS) in Washington.
D.C. and the Texas Historical
Commission (THC) in Austin,"
said Mauro Villarreal. Chair of the
Rio Grande City Historic
Preservation Commission. "Local
community groups, such as city
landmark commissions and county
historical commissions, often
participate in this partnership as
well."
This group of private citizens,
professionals in various
preservation fields, meets three to
four times per year to consider
National Register nominations
from all over the state. The Board
members studied nomination drafts
before this meeting. They will
review merits of the proposed
properties by site visits if they are
meeting nearby, and by
photographs (slides) and testimony
from knowledgeable visitors.
Several incentives are possible
for private building owners. These
include:
* help qualify property owners>
for grant funding or tax incentives i
* priority access to technical
(See HISTORIC. Page 6)
w
RflllLO
Rattler varsity cheerleaders provide spirit
The 2004-2005 Rio Grande City High School Varsin Cheei ca ki-> heighten the Rattlei p t among the
crowd at every football game. Throughout the year, the squad stn\ s busy by cheering at several athletic events,
inspiring elementary students with presentations and finding time to compete nationally The varsity
cheerleaders are under the dir. cti,> of Yohmla ! 'loir* and Billv Sepulveda. The following are the members of
the varsity squad: First Row Mane Ramey and Andrea Guerre; Second Row- Cindy Prado, Anyssa Garza,
;..Kimberly Alaniz and Jessica Chapa; Hiird Row- \ . reniz I ey\ a, Vanessa Villarreal, Audry Ramey (Captain),,
| and Sasha Echavarria; Fourth Rov. Angie < endt lams. Nasha Vluirez. Al\ssa G < /a and Jocelin
Villarreal: Fifth Row- Frankic Chapa. Si ven> V !,t Alex Saenz, Ramiro Diaz, Marcos Ontiveros (Captain)'
and Jorge Lopez. (RGCCISD ph*n
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Roberts, Kenneth. Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), Vol. 91, No. 40, Ed. 1 Thursday, September 30, 2004, newspaper, September 30, 2004; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth196288/m1/1/: accessed July 11, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.