Reprint from the Progress Times - February 1, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

City Council approves Ric Brown crematorium

 

A conditional use permit to operate a crematorium at 621 E. Griffin Parkway was granted to Ric Brown Family Funeral Home during the Monday, January 28, meeting of the Mission City Council held at the new Central Fire Station. The crematorium site is the northwest corner of Keralum Avenue and Griffin Parkway.

Ordinance 3324 allows for a funeral home to operate a crematorium in association with their existing funeral home services. The funeral home owner must also be the owner and applicant of the crematorium.

Final plat approval was granted to Taylor Village Subdivision to be located on 13.86 acres of lot 266, John H. Shary. Preliminary plat was granted in April of 2007. The 49-lot subdivision is immediately north of the Edinburg Canal along the west side of Taylor Road. A gated community is planned.

The total adjusted tax levy for the December 2007 tax report amounted to $15,823,074. Tax collections to date amounted to $6,210,436 or 39.35 percent of the total tax levy.

Final approval was granted to the North Mission EDAP Wastewater Plant project along with the final payment estimate of $490,010 to R. P. Constructors, Inc.

The council approved an ordinance to abandon portions of the Stewart Road right-of-way between the Anzalduas Bridge GSA site in the northwest corner area of lot 61, John H. Shary.

No action was taken on a request for an open cut on Mile One Road South for a water loop connect, an alternative line for connection was located.

A tabled bid for housing assistance was awarded to George Boghs doing business as Benchmark Construction in the amount of $44,400. The funds will be used for reconstruction of a home, under the CDBG program.

The council approved the annual interlocal agreement with Hidalgo County on behalf of Speer Memorial Library. Under the agreement, Speer Memorial is part of the Hidalgo County Library System, consisting of 12 libraries throughout the county. The libraries agree to provide services to county residents, while the county provides a limited amount of funding–usually $9000 to $13,000–to each library. These funds are used for the library’s card catalog system, inter-library loan system and other services.

The council approved Resolution #1197 naming Norie Gonzalez Garza as the alternate member to the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council (LRGVDC) and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO). Mayor Beto Salinas is the official representative for the city.

Irma Fernik was named to the Citizens Advisory Council to represent the northwest quadrant of the city.

Marisela G. Marin was named to the Planning and Zoning Commission to replace Geraldo X. Perez, who resigned.

The council authorized the city to enter into a memorandum of understanding with CLEAResult, Inc. for participation in the 2008 AEP Texas CitySmart Program. The purpose is to reduce the amount of annual electricity load growth through development of energy-efficiency programs. A 2007 agreement with the company resulted in a check for $3,300 in savings coming to the city. It also resulted in energy efficient technologies being installed at the new Central Fire Station to save money on future energy bills.

Following the meeting, the council adjourned to the front of the fire station for the official ribbon cutting, for the newly-completed Central Fire Station and Emergency Operations Center located at 415 W. Tom Landry. The 23,600-square-foot facility greatly enhances the operational capabilities of the Mission Fire Department.