Archive Photo By Roberto Hugo Gonzalez
Texas Border Business –
The City of Edinburg with its leadership has proven that they are a major player in the Rio Grande Valley. Just recently, during the regular City Commission meeting of April 7, 2015 they approved several items that are very important to their community as well as to adjacent communities to the City of Edinburg.
The Edinburg City Council heard a Report Presentation on the possibility of creating a Brackish Desalination Regional Facility in conjunction with the City of McAllen. Such a facility would offer cities an additional source of water. The Edinburg leadership has directed staff to work with the City of McAllen in outlining the duties, responsibilities and cost of such a project.
During the same council session, they approved adding a protected bike line with delineators on Palm Drive. The protected bike lane will run between Stadium Drive and Closner Boulevard.
Another item that deals with important projects in our region is related to healthcare. The Edinburg City Council approved a resolution in support of a Healthcare District for Hidalgo County.
The proposal is being considered in Austin with a cap of 25 cents and only an 8-cent increase per $100 valuation. The City Council approved the resolution to help Hidalgo County improve its indigent care program as well as leverage millions of dollars in federal funds through a federal matching program which the County currently does not have access to. If approved in Austin, the item would have to be approved by the voters in Hidalgo County.
The Council also approved a resolution allowing the Edinburg Police Department to assign one officer to participate in joint operations with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency. Resolution also calls for ICE to reimburse the Edinburg PD for overtime and other law enforcement expenses related to joint operations.
The Council also gave the green light to the Edinburg Police Department to assign one officer to the Texas Department of Public Safety’ Texas Anti-Gang Center relating to the targeting of gangs and criminal organizations operating in Hidalgo County.
Ramiro Garza, the Edinburg City Manager, also got a green light to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the University of Texas Pan-American, Mission Hospital, Mujeres Unidas, Family Crisis Center, Friendship of Women Inc., Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid, and the Hidalgo County District Attorney’s Office to create a coordinated response team that recognizes socio-cultural norms that create conditions of silence against women of Hispanic communities and train all law enforcement to respond effectively in sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking cases.
Another task for the City Manager was the authorization to execute an agreement with the Golazo Soccer Association for the Youth Soccer Program. The agreement includes usage of soccer fields located at Will Looney Park, Norma Linda Treviño Park, and Municipal Park for its soccer program. The agreement is for a two-year period.
These are just a few of the items considered on April 7, 2015. To view the entire City of Edinburg Council Meeting visit www.cityofedinburg.com and click on the ECN12 icon. The council meetings are also broadcasted on ECN17-12 every Tuesday and Thursday until the next city council meeting. TBB
