MISSION — The Mission City Council approved a measure for a road expansion project on the city’s west side into Palmview.

On Monday, leaders approved the cost of engineering services for the Mile 2 West project to create a four-lane road, with a fifth lane at intersections, between Conway Avenue in Mission and La Homa Road in Palmview in the amount of $1,257,229. L&G Engineering will do the work.

Engineer Jacinto Garza said the total cost of the project is $4,032,000, which will come from federal and state funds. The money for the project will be administered through the Metropolitan Planning Organization, as the project involves more than one city. The project will be funded in the 2012 fiscal year’s budget, which means work will start the latter part of 2012.

Read more: Mile 2 West improvements set for 2012

In a special called meeting this morning (Monday), the Mission City Council voted unanimously to file an injunction against Mission Economic Development Authority, Inc. (MEDA). The purpose of the injunction would be to restrain the non-profit corporation from disposing of any of its assets. The council’s authorization also seeks an order for MEDA to convey all its assets to the City of Mission.

Read more: City plans to file injunction against MEDA

MISSION — The Mission Economic Development Authority (MEDA) will not be able to deliver on the Mission City Council’s order to turn over all its assets to the city by May 15, according to former MEDA President/CEO Pat Townsend Jr.

MEDA’s inventory of assets, as of March 31, shows the corporation has net assets of $5,022,035, including $3,098,978 in cash and $1,870,531 in land consisting of lots in the organization’s industrial park.

Read more: MEDA will not deliver assets to city by deadline

MISSION — Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas said Mission is a Christian community and the event is to honor all the churches and to pray together.

Salinas, at the annual Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon on May 5, said the council does so much for the fast growing community and the police department has been able to work with other agencies to provide a safer community.

Read more: Mayor: Our community is a Christian community

MISSION — District administrators for the Mission Consolidated Independent School District (MCISD) said they anticipate helping truant students with a cellular phone program that should enable the district to collect on its full average daily attendance revenue.

“It’s a proven truancy reduction program,” said Anna Lissa Gessner, Safe Schools-Healthy Students project director.

Read more: MCISD using mentor program for truancy

TASB advice could have saved Texas schools over $96 million

Editor’s note: The following is the second part of a two-part series on local school district staffing methodologies. The Progress Times met with school administrators and education advocates to determine how districts deal with maintaining their staffing levels and whether a standard should be required.

LA JOYA — Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) representatives met staff at the La Joya Independent School District (LJISD) this week to start a review of its workforce. Interviewing all kinds of employees from principals to custodial staff, the group is charged with helping the district identify which positions, if any, it can eliminate if a worker leaves the district.

Read more: LOOKING IN FROM THE OUTSIDE

McALLEN — If Rio Grande Valley school districts want to fight for equitable funding per student in line with wealthier Texas school districts, it must pursue a litigation battle with the state, citing the unconstitutionality in school funding, Sharyland board Vice President Ricky Longoria said Wednesday.

But while schools can’t spend money on such litigation, Longoria suggested the business community help finance legal action as the impacts of budget shortfalls greatly impinge on commerce here.

Read more: Economic advocates propose suing for equitable funding

Editor’s Note: The following is an article on flooding problems submitted by Ned Sheats who has been researching flooding issues since 2008. This is his second article that is the result of research, interviews with city and county officials and his own opinions on what he’s learned.

Read more: Mission resident questions causes of city flooding