La Joya City Commission accepts city administrator’s resignation

The La Joya City Commission accepted a resignation letter from City Administrator Mike Alaniz on Thursday — and wished him a happy retirement.

June 30 will mark Alaniz’s last day at City Hall, where he worked for nearly 20 years. He supervised the construction of La Joya’s new municipal building, which replaced the run-down city complex on Leo Avenue; the annexation of Havana, a small community west of La Joya; and the creation of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone, which is designed to spur development.

“Of course, all this was a very difficult decision to make,” Alaniz said, thanking the mayor, City Commission and community for their support over the years. “So, thank you, and God bless you all.”

Alaniz submitted his resignation letter on May 31 amid a federal investigation that involves suspicious land deals.

Neither the City Commission nor Alaniz mentioned the investigation Thursday night, when they met to accept his resignation and start the search for a new city manager.

It’s unclear whether or not the City Commission will be able to solicit applications, interview candidates and select a replacement for Alaniz by June 30. If the process takes longer than three weeks, the City Commission may appoint an acting or interim city manager.

Mayor Jose A. “Fito” Salinas and the City Commission thanked Alaniz for dedicating the past 20 years to La Joya.

“I can go on and on,” Mayor Salinas said, listing the many projects Alaniz handled that spurred development and improved the quality of life in La Joya. “We want to thank you for all of that.”