The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 15, 1987 Page: 1 of 10
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By KENNETH ROBERTS
Figures presented to the County
Commissioners at their regular
meeting indicate that the county
ended the 1986-87 fiscal year with a
deficit of only about $10,500.
Auditor Jose Guadalupe Viilar-
real said, "We had a good year last
year. We came out in the vicinity
of a shortfall of $50,000. But a
payment of $36,000 for services
rendered in August came on Oct. 1.
We considered it as income for
1986-87."
Villarreal indicated that this
reduced the total deficit to $10,588.
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He said that $15,339 more than
anticipated came into the General
Fund, while $86,185 more in reve-
nue than expected came into the
Road and Bridge Fund.
As far as expenditures were
concerned, the General Fund had
$9834 more in expenses than
projected, while the Road and
Bridge Fund had $46,260 less
expenses than budgeted.
Villarreal said, "We came out
with a deficit, because the original
budget was overappropriated by
$143,000."
County Judge J.M. Martinez, Jr.,
said, "These are very encouraging
figures. 1 am proud of the court
ounty Deficit Down b $10,588
and all the different departments."
Commissioner Amando Pena con-
tended that there might not be a
deficit at all, insisting that "there
was money in the Bridge and Gas
System at year's end."
But Villarreal stressed that at
year's end, "we owe the city of
Roma $70,000 (from the bridge)."
Martinez noted, "The reason we
still owe Roma is because the
formula is applied a year later."
Assistant Auditor Joaquin
Gutierrez noted, and Martinez also
pointed out, that "the Sheriff's
Department underspent their
budget by $45,000."
Tax Assessor-Collector Maria
Ofelia Saenz noted that "the
ad-valorem report is ready; the
money has not been turned in. I'm
talking about $18,500 in delinquent
tax collections for September."
Villarreal noted that in the report,
he had included September 1986
figures for delinquent tax collec-
tions for the 1986-87 fiscal year.
Pena concluded, "The whole
court, including the judge, worked
hard for this. I always said we
would come out in the black."
Concerning the port facilities
project, Villarreal said, "It seems
like they (Pan-Tex) will need to be
paid. I suggest that you move to set
up a special account for $3000 (for
miscellaneous labor needs) At the
end of the project, we will have
t3000 to pay back the general
fund."
Ted Miller of Pan-Tex com-
mented, "$3000 should be suffi-
cient." The commissioners thus
passed a motion to that effect.
Reporting further, Miller said,
"The last retaining wall, wall A, is
100 percent complete. Masonry
work is 45 percent complete on the
administration building; structural
steel should be finished in a week.
Concrete walls for the primary and
secondary booths are 65 percent
complete. The project is eight days
behind; in 30 days, the time should
be made up."
Martinez worried about a warn-
ing from the Ethics Committee of
the Rio Grande Valley Chapter of
the Texas Society of Professional
Engineers, about the port facility
project not having a professional
engineer Martinez contended that
according to the committee, a
professional engineer is a re-
quirement.
Miller referred the matter to
McAllen architect Danny
Boultinghouse, who said, "Consoli-
dated Engineers (of Omaha,
Nebraska) prepared the plans;
(See DEFICIT, I'upe 6)
Homecoming
Game
Celebrated,
Pg. 10
•vm
: r r
H.E.B.
Inserts
Inside
Published in Rio Grande City, Texas, Every Thursday By The Rio Grande Publishing Co.
NO. 49 THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1987
FIFTEEN CENTS
Trustees Decide On
Land, Building Needs
The Rio Grande City Homecoming Queen and King
candidates are pictured above. Standing in the front row,
from left to right, are Frances Garcia, Celeste Gomez,
and Angelica Salinas. Standing in the back row are
Gilberto Garcia, Aaron Garcia, and Richie Cantu.
Bv KENNETH ROBERTS
The Rio Grande City CISD board
of trustees, at their special meeting
Monday night, tentatively voted to
acquire 10 acres of land from the
Starr County Industrial Foundation
for the construction of an elemen-
tary school east of Rio Grande
City.
Trustee Francisco "Paco"
Zarate, repreeenting the Land
Committee, said, "We (the
three-member committee) weren't
able to come up with a unanimous
recommendation."
Zarate indicated that a Velma
Lopez was willing to sell property
at $7500 an acre, while the
"Montalvo property" had been
lowered in offering price from
$11,000 to $72i ; an acre."
Of the Industrial Foundation
Property, Zarate said, "They are
willing to subdivide this (30 acres)
into three tracts of 10 acres each.
This land appears to be the most
level. They're willing to offer for
$6500 an acre."
Zarate added, "What made this
attractive is that an EDA grant can
Homecoming Queen To
Be Crowned Fridn v ISish
One of three senior girls will be
crowned Rio Grande City High
Homecoming Queen during
halftime of the game with Laredo
United Friday night at Rattler
Stadium.
At this year's Homecoming cele-
bration, the Rio High classes of
1958, 1968, and 1978 will be honored.
The theme will be entitled "A
Magical Masquerade Ball.''
The candidates for homecoming
queen are: Angelica Salinas,
daughter of Mr and Mrs. Jesus M
Salinas; Frances Garcia, daughter
of Mr and Mrs. Jesus Garcia; and
Celeste Gomez, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Javier Gomez
Candidates for Homecoming
King will be Aaron Garcia, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Lisandro Garcia;
Richie Cantu, son of Mr and Mrs.
Rodolfo Cantu; and Gilberto
Garcia, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs.
Gilberto Garcia
The junior duchess will be
Clarissa Garcia, daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Gilberto Garcia. Her
escort will be Honorio Garza, Jr.,
son of Mr and Mrs HonorioGarza.
The sophomore duchess is Crissy
Olivarez, daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Willie Olivarez Her escort will be
Willie Gonzalez, Jr , son of Mr. and
Mrs Guillermo Gonzalez.
The freshman duchess is
Veronica Guzman, daughter of Mr
and Mrs. Leonei T. Guzman. Her
escort will be Hiram Saenz, son of
Mr. and Mrs Juan Erasmo Saenz.
Water Board Hears Of
Las Lomas Problems
Residents of the Las Lomas
Subdivision east of Rio Grande City
appealed Tuesday afternoon to the
directors of the Starr County Water
District to provide steady water
supplies to the "colonia ", now
supplied by El Tanque Water
Supply and plagued by water
shortages.
Several residents of the colonia
appealed to the Starr Water Board
Directors at their regular monthly
meeting Tuesday afternoon
As the meeting started. Irma
Doria. a Las Lomas resident, said,
"I'm asking to be heard about
supplying Las Lomas Subdivision
We had a meeting with Johnny
Hinojosa, Jr , (the Water Master in
Weslaco), and he suggested we
come here. We belong to El
Tanque."
She added, "El Tanque has
over-exhausted theijj capacity
They asked Mr (Bias) Chapa (the
developer) to talk to you about
acquiring water rights for 500
homes."
Efrain Duran, manager of the
Starr County Water District, re-
sponded, "This is a political
subdivision We have to annex it
(Las Lomas) by election or other
legal process. Five hundred homes
is a lot of homes The main cause
of everything is a lack of water
rights."
Doria said, "They told Mr Chapa
Man Charged With
Sexual Assault
A Rio Grande City man remains
in the Starr County Jail charged
with committing a sexual assault
against a woman in the La Casita
area early Saturday morning
Noe Lopez, Jr., 21, was arraigned
on Monday before Justice of the
Peace Arnoldo Gonzalez, Jr.. who
set bond at $50,000. He had been
arrested, with no resistance, by the
Sheriff's Department at approxi-
mately 3:40 a m Sunday in Rio
Grande City.
Sheriff Gene Falcon said that
Lopez is accused of forcing his way
into a La Casita residence at
approximately 5 a.m. Saturday by
opening a window screen
Falcon said that the young adult
woman was sleeping at the time
Falcon said that investigation
into the episode is continuing.
be applied for on a 60-40 match, for
water lines and other utilities. We
feel this would be a great savings
to the district. A total of 1600 to
1800 feet of water lines is predicted
to be needed. They have offered to
cut the land in equal tracts."
Zarate concluded, "They are
interested in selling the whole
thing, but 10 acres are sufficient,
we feel "
Trustee Leonei J. "Nene" Lopez
said, "El Tanque services to just
before you get to the industrial
park (from the north). They will
have to buy some more water
rights to supply the people. There's
water and sewer to Griffin and
Brand. The easements have been
taken care of."
Zarate said, "We're told the road
i< to be paved. We went out there
with Silvestre Gonzalez (of the Soil
Conservation Service). He said it is
not flood-prone."
Zarate added, "He (Gonzalez)
suggested we talk to engineer Eloy
Vera." It was then noted that
trustee Jaime Ramirez had not
supported this recommendation.
Trustee Eloy Garcia said, "Mr.
(Rene) Montalvo of the Foundation
says there's no easements right
now " Lopez said, "What they're
going to try to do is trade for that
piece of property (for the ease-
ment)."
Trustee Dr. Antonio Falcon
moved that pending obtaining of
necessary easements and checking
for flood-prone possibilities, the 10
acres be acquired from the Foun-
dation
When the vote came. Falcon's
motion, seconded by Dr Roberto
Gonzalez, carried with four positive
votes. Garcia voted no, and
Ramirez and Lopez voted to
abstain Lopez explained, "I abs-
tained because I'm the secretary of
the Foundation."
Board President Rafael Carrera
expressed reservations about the
decision, but concluded, "We need
to go forward now, and see what
we can do We've had meeting
after meeting." Falcon noted, "It
(acquiring land for the school) has
been more difficult than we antici-
pated "
It was noted that the Building
Committee had met on Saturday
morning to consider possibilities
for cafeteria construction. Business
Manager Romeo Lopez noted that
"the budgeted total was $645,000"
for new North Grammar and
Grulla Elementary cafeterias, plus
remodeling of the Roque Guerra
cafeteria.
Lopez emphasized that the bids
for the North Grammar and Grulla
cafeterias alone had totaled over
$647,000.
He, and the building committee,
suggested that the Grulla cafeteria
be built by the low bidder,
Williamson Construction of
McAllen, while North Grammar's
new cafeteria would be built under
"local management."
Lopez indicated that the "Roque
Guerra remodeling, and remodel-
ing of the Grulla cafeteria will be
on hold for now." He added that
the projected fund balance for
1986-87, just completed, is $750,000
Lopez then gave a list of
projected needs, approved by the
board on budget amendments
Among these were using $161,000
from the fund balance to balance
the 1987-88 budget, hiring six
additional teachers at $150,000 (not
budgeted), constructing four sets of
two portable rooms at Ringgold
Intermediate, at $37,000 per pair,
$30,000 for air conditioning the
Grulla gymnasium, and $20,000 for
roofing work on the Multi-Purpose
Center.
Lopez added, "The RGCCISD
will actively be seeking funds
under the Capital Acquisition Pro-
gram," of an entity affiliated with
the Texas Association of School
Boards.
The business manager said, "We
could buy P E equipment, buses,
air conditioning, portable buildings,
gymnasium equipment, and light
and heavy duty trucks under this
plan We should get involved from
a minimum of $500,000, to $1
million."
Lopez contended, "Based on the
information I have, I think this
program is sound. The Grulla air
conditioning equipment could come
from this. We might be able to use
these funds for portable buildings
There's a range of three to eight
years to pay."
Lopez added, "A committee of
the board should look at these
types of funding. Those two pro-
jects, the Grulla and North
Grammar cafeterias, would go
with appropriated funds. You can
easily see $200,000 more We must
have a fund balance atali times."
Carrera contended that the three
cafeterias, in the bid process, came
out to $284,000 more than budgeted,
while Eloy Garcia contended the
figure was $205,000 greater
Falcon commented, "I would
hope the next priority would be to
improve the Roque Guerra cafete-
ria. Kids there only have 15
minutes to eat "
Gonzalez said, "We've been
spending too many hours; I feel
this is the solution right now With
the capital acquisition program
we'd have a solution for the next
five years."
Lopez told the trustees that the
(Set- DECIDE. Page 1)
Lions, Fire Dept
To Hold
Blood Drive
The Rio Grande City Lions Club
and the Rio Grande City Volunteer
Fire Department will be carrying
out, as a cooperative effort, a blood
drive on Saturday, Oct. 24
The blood drive, at the Rio
Grande City fire station, will last
from 10 a m to 2 p.m on Saturdav.
Oct 24
There will be signup sheets at
numerous area businesses Door
prizes will be awarded at the end of
the donation period.
Anyone seeking further informa-
tion about the blood drive should
call 487-5920.
Sen. Zaffirini
To Visit Rio
State Sen Judith Zaffirini
Laredo will be visiting Rio Gr r-d<.-
City this coming Wednesday
She will appear at the
Ringgold Motor Inn for a coffee at
10 a.m. on Wednesday , Oct 21.
he would have to supply water
rights, which he was willing to do."
Duran replied, "It (taking on Las
Lomas) is a big expense We either
have to go through a loan process
ora (popular) vote."
Doria said, "He (Chapa) is to put
four and six inch lines, plus one
central eight-inch line." Duran
suggested, "Why not go through
the El Tanque board? They (El
Tanque Water Supply) have al
ready surpassed their capacity."
Doria replied, "They (the water
office in Weslaco and the Attorney
General's office) suggested we go
directly to the Water District "
Duran said, "It's not just the
main line that supplies the water.
Either adequate pumps are needed,
or an elevated tank They (the
Water Board) have to authorize us
to expand; we have to show that
we can do it."
Doria contended, "You are al
ready serving us through El
Tanque People are going without
water for days at a time." Duran
said, "This (taking in I-as Lomas)
has to be done correctly " Doria
said, "Water rights would be 1/2
acre foot per residence. "
Board member Armando Garcia
expressed sympathy for Las
Lomas' plight, but stressed, "The
big problem right now is storage.
(Sep WATER. Pagr 4>
«
The junior, sophomore and freshman duchesses are pictured above Standing in the
front row, from left to right, are freshman duchess Veronica Guzman, sophomore
duchess Crissy Olivarez and junior duchess Clarissa Garcia. Standing in the hack row
are their escorts: freshman Hiram Saenz, sophomore Willie Gonzalez, Jr.. and
Honorio Garza, Jr.
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Roberts, Kenneth. The Rio Grande Herald (Rio Grande City, Tex.), No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, October 15, 1987, newspaper, October 15, 1987; Edinburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth195102/m1/1/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Rio Grande City Public Library.