Reprint from the Progress Times - April 18, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Council annexes more land

 

Mission City Council approved annexation of two tracts of land on Taylor Road during their Monday, April 14, meeting.

Tract A includes Valley Memorial Gardens West Subdivision, which takes in Section E-2B of Valley Memorial Gardens West.

Tract B includes all of Lots 125, 126, 135, 136, 145, 146 of John H. Shary Subdivision including perimeter streets and right-of-ways. It will square off an area that includes McManus Subdivision, which is already in the city. The site is bounded by Colorado Street on the north, Sharyland Road on the west, and Taylor Road on the east, and the northern edge of Riverside Estates at Sharyland in the south.

In other zoning matters, the council approved a conditional use permit for on-site sale and consumption of beer and wine at 2002 N. Conway Avenue. The subject site is located just off the northeast corner of East 20th and Conway Avenue. A pizzeria is planned.

A conditional use permit to allow a second residence to provide health care for an elderly parent at 126 S. Canal Road was approved.

A request by Eutiquio Salinas to install a bollard on street right-of-way to protect fencing improvements at 127 S. Canal was approved. He wishes to protect his chain-link fence as neighbors swerve through his driveway to get to their property.

The council approved temporary roadway and utility easement dedication documents presented by Hunt Development for the Anzalduas Highway (FM 396). The document satisfies all of the city’s need for roadway connectors to the future Anzalduas Highway. Before construction by the Texas Department of Transportation begins, all easements must be in the City of Mission’s name.

Resolution #1204 approved the FAST program for use at the Anzalduas Bridge when it opens. The program will provide for faster processing of commercial traffic using the bridge.

Ordinance #3330 approved a wet designation for 2009 W. Mile 3 Road, Suite 300. It is zoned for off-premise consumption of alcoholic beverages. Planning Director Sergio Zavala said the site would have a convenience store.

Permission to issue a building permit for the unrecorded Lot One, South Shary Commercial Subdivision, located south of Café de Paris, was approved. Chanin Group Inc. plans two new commercial buildings valued at $450,000 at the site.

In other action, the council approved an interlocal agreement between Hidalgo County, Hidalgo County Drainage District #1, Palmhurst, Mission and Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD). The county wants to overlay and make road improvements to Trosper Road between the Mile 2 Road and the Mile 3 Road. Holland Road will be improved from Mile 2 Road to the south, a distance of 1,475 feet. Additional improvements will be made a distance of 658 feet from Mile 2 Road to the south, which is within the city limits of Mission.

Simultaneously, the drainage district will make drainage improvements to Trosper Road from the two-and-one-half Mile Line to the Mile 2 Road, a distance of 1,475 feet, and along Holland Road for 658 feet from Mile 2 Road south, within the Mission city limits.

During citizen’s participation MCISD Superintendent Oscar Rodriguez asked the city council for support of the upcoming Instructional Facilities Allotment (IFA) bond election to fund a new elementary in South Mission and to continue renovation projects planned for the last IFA bond election that did not get completed due to rapidly rising construction costs.

Rodriguez said that taxes would increase $0.07 per $100 valuation and the taxes on a $50,000 home would increase by $2 per month. The council plans a special meeting Friday to approve a resolution of support.

Virginia Townsend addressed the council reminding them of a promise to provide a joint venture swimming pool for the Sharyland Independent School District as phase three of Sharyland Bannworth Park Construction 16 years ago. Townsend said 16 years was long enough for residents of Sharyland to wait.

Mayor Beto Salinas told Townsend that Bannworth Park was a Mission park. He said the council had no problem funding the swimming pool for that area. At a recent workshop, council members had discussed constructing the pool in conjunction with an expansion of the Mission Boys and Girls Club somewhere in the Sharyland area. The pool would be put in the October budget. Salinas said the city now has "lots of money" and could do the project.

Chris Martinez addressed the council about attacks on her daughter and herself by a neighbor’s three pit bulls that she said are allowed to run around free in the neighborhood. She has tried getting animal control to take care of the dogs. The owner of the dogs alleges that because Mission’s animal control officers are not properly trained, the case in municipal court is not valid.

After a brief exchange, City Attorney David Guerra stepped in and stopped discussion, saying the case was to be heard in court on Monday, April 28. He said the dog owner was alleging that city animal control personnel did not have proper certification. That did not mean it was true.

Other Council Action

Approval was given to change order number one for the Los Indios force main improvements. It will raise the cost of the project by $16,420 to $445,308.88.

Five ambulance permits were granted approval for operations in the City of Mission, as recommended by the Mission Ambulance Board. They are Med-Care EMS, Ambulance Transportation Services, Elite EMS, Medical & Trauma EMS and Border EMS.

The Fire Department was given permission to bid locally for a compressor and other equipment for the new Central Fire Station. While they had been granted permission to purchase through state approved contracts, they felt they could get a better price locally.

The council also granted permission to solicit bids for grading services for the new Bentsen Palm Park.

Mission Auto Electric received the bid for purchase of riding mowers for the Mission Parks and Recreation Department.

Rosie Zapata was appointed ballot board judge for the upcoming electioning will be held at the Central Fire Station because early voting will be taking place in council chambers.