Reprint from the Progress Times - May 2, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

 

Mayor raises roof over odors from lift station

 

By Kathy Olivarez

Mayor Beto Salinas lodged a protest over the delay in correcting the odors related to the South Bryan Road Lift Station, which is expected to be completed by early June in the Monday, April 28, council meeting. Salinas told engineer Fred Kurth of Melden & Hunt that no one had explained to the council why the area was still experiencing strong odors.

He told Kurth that he was "fed up with the problem. The city paid good money for construction and the problem is still not resolved". He said he hesitated to start on the north side of Bryan Road for fear the odor problems would be the same.

Kurth attempted to apologize to the mayor who cut him off saying, "don’t apologize. I want to see results, not hear apologies." Kurth gave the council a handout explaining the problem. The mayor was angered by the handout and asked why no one had come and explained the problem to the council. The project should have been finished in March and it was still not resolved. And there had been no explanations.

According to the handout Kurth gave the council the problem was that a certain high-grade filter used extensively throughout the United States had been ordered from Bioway, a company located in the Netherlands. Mission has five of these units at the wastewater treatment plant and three in different lift stations and all have been successful in eliminating odors. The product was specified in the bid.

Delivery was expected in November but the company changed the delivery date twice. However, the engineers had received "a firm commitment" from the manufacturer saying parts should arrive by the third week of May. Kurth said the plant should be ready to start up by the first week in June.

The mayor demanded to know why no one had brought the problem to the attention of the council before now. He wanted to know whose fault it was and suggested that the contractor, R.P. Construction, be penalized $250 a day from March 27 when construction was not completed until the plant was operating.

Attorney David Guerra confirmed the city had a penalty clause in the contract.

Kurth suggested the problem was not really the fault of the contractor because the supplier had failed to deliver the filter in a timely manner and that was beyond the control of the contractor.

The mayor asked if the filter could be obtained from other sources.

Kurth replied there were other companies that made similar filters but the lead-time in ordering the filter from another source would prolong the odor problem by an additional four to six months.

The discussion ended with the mayor instructing Guerra to notify the contractor that the $250 a day penalty was in effect retroactive to March 27.

In other action the Mission City Council changed the one-year action plan set up by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The amount requested by different departments was $1,325,302 but the CAC only has a budget of $829,146. Jo Anne Longoria presented their recommendations to the Council.

The CAC recommended an allocation of $40,000 for rehabilitation assistance, $583,146 for reconstruction assistance, $70,000 for housing administration and $105,000 for Community Development Department administration for a total of $799,146.

Under public services the CAC recommended $5,000 allocations to Dentists Who Care, the Area Agency on Aging, Amigos Del Valle, Inc. and Children’s Advocacy. A $10,000 allocation was made for graffiti removal for a total of $30,000.

City Manager Julio Cerda recommended $40,000 for housing rehabilitation, $599,146 for reconstruction assistance, $70 for housing administration, and $105,000 for Community Development Administration for a total of $774,146.

His recommendations for public services were $5,000 each for Dentists Who Care, Area Agency on Aging, and Children’s Advocacy. Amigos del Valle Inc. was to receive $25,000 and graffiti removal would receive $15,000.

The council had still different ideas on the allocations. After deciding that $599,146 was enough to do 12 to 13 housing reconstructions, they went with the city manager’s recommendations for city departments.

At the suggestion of Councilwoman Norie Garza, graffiti removal was moved to the general budget to provide more funding for public services.

Mayor Beto Salinas told the council that the $25,000 for Amigos Del Valle was needed because they needed to purchase a new van to provide services to their clients.

Dentists Who Care had met with city officials to ask for additional funding for their program. It was decided to give Children’s Advocacy an additional $2,500 of the money left after graffiti removal was taken out of the budget. Dentists Who Care received the other $7,500 while the Area Agency on Aging allocation remained the same.

In other related action, two extensions of 90 and 180 days were given on appeals for the housing assistance program applicants.

Under zoning matters, the Council approved preliminary plat approval for Mission San Patricio Subdivision, to be constructed on 48.75 acres of Lot 9-5, 9-6, 10-5 and 10-6, West Addition to Sharyland Planned Unit Development.

As part of the development, the developers were to pave 38 feet of a divided highway for Military Parkway. However it is possible that a proposed southwest loop would overlay the paved section. Developers asked to pave only a 27-foot section with curb and gutter on the south side since paving will probably be removed within two to four years. There were no objections to this variance.

Because the new southwest loop will bi-sect the Domit acreage into two components, they requested that the 85 acres south of the future loop be diverted to the Madero Lift Station, while the more predominate acreage will still move northward. The city already has plans to upgrade the Madero lift station so there were no objections.

Under other planning considerations an ordinance to amend timing on conditional use permits was changed to read the petition shall be presented to the council within 10 days after the decision of the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) for notification and calling for a public hearing on the appeal.

An ordinance amending the Future Land Use Map (FLUM) was approved for area located between Taylor Road, Mile Two and a half juncture, Glasscock Road and Griffin Parkway. The area north of Mile 2 Road was designated LDA due to existing R-1A zonings and estates residential developments.

The northwest and southeast corners of Shary and Mile 2 Road were designated Neighborhood Commercial (C-2) because of its frontage to a major road.

Valley Memorial Gardens was given a P designation for public use.

The area south of the Mission Lateral and the Edinburg Canal was designated LD to reflect existing R-1 zonings and lot sizes.

A General Commercial (GC) designation was given one-third mile north of FM 495 and along the west side of Shary where Pine Ridge, (currently under construction) is zoned Neighborhood Commercial (C-2) and may be upgraded to C-3 with the forthcoming widening of FM 495.

The area south and east of Fox Run was designated General Commercial (GC) because it is adjacent to existing commercial uses and major thoroughfares.

Tierra Grande and Las Canteras were designated LD to reflect their single-family zonings. The boundary was extended across 3-A Mr. Fun’s and Stars.

The Council held a public hearing on the proposed annexation of the Valley Memorial Gardens West Subdivision including Section E-2B of Valley Memorial Gardens West. Also to be annexed are lots 125, 126, 135, 136, 145, 146 and 156, of John H. Shary Subdivision including all perimeter street right-of-ways.

The condos at Adam’s Crossing are zoned Multi-Family (R-3) and were designated HD for High Density.

Final plat approval was granted to Pine Ridge Estates Subdivision to be constructed on 12.68 acres out of Lot 264, John H. Shary Subdivision. The 57-residential lot subdivision is approximately 2,000 feet north of Griffin Parkway on the west side of a commercial reserve abutting Shary Road.

Final plat approval was granted to Retama Village Phase II Subdivision to be constructed on 21.5 acres of Lot 31, Bentsen Groves Addition "E" out of Lot 14, Del Monte Irrigation Company Subdivision Planned Unit Development. Approximately 50 RV lots and 67 single-family residential lots are planned in the proposed private subdivision with gated security.

Final plat approval was granted to San Marino Subdivision to be located on 13.880 acres, a replat from Lots one through seven Sharyland Plantation Village Saddle Club and Lot 6A of the replat of Lots six and seven, Sharyland Plantation Saddle Club. The site is contiguous to the Hunt’s visitor’s center.

Preliminary plat approval was granted to Castillo & Sons Subdivision, to be located on 2.58 acres of land out of Lot 86, Sharyland Orchards Subdivision. The site is the southwest corner of School Lane and Lucksinger Road. A total of 18 residential townhouses are planned.

A request by Gustavo Sandoval to allow a portion of a masonry wall to exist on public right-of-way was approved for 1901 E. 21st Street in Highland Estates Subdivision.

A variance not to have a public street in Spring Valley Subdivision, located on the southwest corner of Mile 2 Road and Stewart Road was approved.

Approval of an advance funding agreement for Shary Road with the Texas Department of Transportation in the amount of $44,000.52 for reconstructing FM 494 from SH 495 to Mile 3 Road was granted.

The tax collection report for March showed an adjusted tax levy of $15,941,055.18. Collections as of March amounted to $13,759,835.77 or 86.32 of the total tax levy.

Several homes and lots were declared surplus and authorized for sale by auction at the request of Elizabeth Cabrera, purchasing agent. These properties were seized in drug related cases.

Included are properties at 2307 Silverado in Palmhurst valued at $495,995; 3012 Nyssa in McAllen, valued at $80,046; and 2200 N. 19th Street in Mission, valued at $105,522. Others included lot two Orange Bud Estates on Tower Road in Donna, valued at $138,502; lot three, Orange Bud Estates, valued at $42,240; and Amigo Park, tract four including 0.529 acres of a 20 acres tract out of Lot 8, Block four, Lot one, Block 17, John Closner Subdivision in Hidalgo County.

A request for a renewal lease agreement with Macedonio Gonzalez for Lot 20, Block 173, Mission Original Townsite was approved by a vote of four to one. The site is being used as a parking lot by the city and is located at 117 E. Tom Landry. The original agreement was $2,000 a year. Mayor Salinas opposed the increase.

The Council approved Resolution 1206 approving the issuance of Mission Economic Development Corporation solid waste disposal revenue bonds Series 2008 for Allied Waste North America, Inc.

The Risk Management Department has received a check for $102,721 from the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool, reflecting an equity return to the city due to a decrease in claims.

Resolution 1207 authorized the Mission Police Department to submit a 2008 Click It or Ticket grant application to TxDot. If received, the program will run May 19 through June 1.

The police were also authorized to submit a grant application to the Governor’s Division of Emergency management for Operation Stone Garden 2008. Grant funding would be utilized to work southbound traffic into Mexico via the new Anzalduas International Bridge.

Police will monitor traffic leaving the country in an effort to control all types of criminal activity. In addition the police are applying to purchase two Sky Watch towers to monitor activity along the bridge. The grant, if received, is a three-year grant with a total amount of $869,732.32

City Manager Julio Cerda was given permission to use his discretion to settle liens less that $500.

Solicitation of bids for Housing Assistance Program Phase 07-III was approved for six residences.

Solicitation of bids for reconstruction of the roof on the Strickland Building and overlay of various streets in Mission were approved.

Janet Clemerson has been appointed to act as alternate judge for the Bryan Elementary Precinct.

The City Council meeting scheduled for May 12 has been cancelled due to the election being held in Council Chambers at City Hall. The May 26 meeting of the council has been changed to May 27 due to the Memorial Day holiday.

Under proclamations the month of May was declared "Elder Abuse Prevention Month."

May 15 was designated Peace Officer’s Memorial Day.

April 28 was designated Lena Guerrerro Day honoring the former Missionite who was a State Representative for Austin and served as Texas Railroad Commissioner. Guerrero died April 24.