Reprint from the Progress Times - May 23, 2008
©Progress Times 2008 - All Rights Reserved

Palmhurst construction delays continue

 

By Ricky Reynoso

The Palmhurst City Council received an update regarding ongoing road construction projects during a regularly scheduled meeting on May 20. City manager Lori Lopez said that one of the projects, on Mile Three Road between Conway Avenue and Los Ebanos Road, has been delayed for seven months. She said that the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) cannot continue construction until certain utility projects have been completed. TxDOT then asked the city to help in any way.

"I met with TxDOT, Time Warner and Magic Valley Electrical Cooperative," said Lopez. "Magic Valley is just one of the utilities that’s holding up the project. So I asked them if they could expedite their utilities and they agreed, as well as Time Warner."

Lopez also said that another construction project on Shary Road and Mile Three Road is still under construction, but it is running on time. Councilwoman Irma Garcia expressed her concerns with citizens speeding through the construction zones.

"A lot of it is just students hauling on their way to school," said Garcia.

Mayor Ramiro J. Rodriguez said that he has also talked with TxDot regarding the construction and was told that there was nothing that could be done.

"I've said that the police chief is complaining, the citizens are complaining and I've seen the traffic myself," Rodriguez said. "They said they were gonna work as fast as they can."

Lopez said that there will also be another construction project coming up in the next year, with the site being at Conway Avenue between F.M. 495 and Mile Three Road.

"So we'll soon have construction sites on Mile Three Road and Shary, and soon on Conway between 495 and Mile Three Road," said Lopez. "And that will be a six million dollar project."

Also on the agenda was a resolution brought forth by City Attorney Darrell Davis regarding donations given to the city. Davis said that under the proposed resolution all donations would first be brought before the city council for their approval, which would keep it under public record.

"In one city, somebody secretly donated a bunch of cemetery lots back to the city," said Davis. "The city didn't even know about it until later. We want to make it clear that the donation is accepted by the city only by the city council."

Davis also said that donations could only be given to the city, not to any individual council member or employee. He said that the policy would prohibit council members or city employees from implying that city services could be provided in return for donations or actively soliciting them.

"You're not to imply, 'you could get this going, if only we had some better pens to write with’," said Davis.

Rodriguez said that the city didn't want to discourage donations, they only want to avoid questionable situations.

"I think we have a citizenry that wants to help us when they can," said Rodriguez. "But I believe that we need to avoid a quid pro quo where we say, ‘provide this and we're gonna be easier on you’."

The resolution was passed unanimously.

The Council also discussed the possibility of creating an outdoor recreational facility. Grant Writer Robert Garcia said that there were grants available for such projects, but the council had to decide the specifics of what they wanted.

"You, as a council, have to decide if you want a full blown park or a trail," Garcia said. "I will not put forth anything without a plan and your directive."

Councilwoman Rosario Enriquez expressed dissatisfaction, saying that the city has been discussing the project for years but nothing had been done. Garcia said that they had to act on the more pressing needs of the police department, but now there was an opportunity. Mayor Rodriguez said that the opportunity to discuss any projects would be at a planned meeting on June 3.

"We need to prioritize in the meeting," Rodriguez said. "We need to decide what's more important, the Fire grants or Parks and Wildlife, and Robert will be there to answer any questions. Then we can say, 'Ok, we're gonna do this right now.'"