The Edinburg City Council has approved extending the hours of voting in the upcoming municipal election from 9 to 12.
The previous voting period was from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and now it will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“It needs to be amended, because we didn’t know where the sites were going to be and the time was still showing 8 to 5 as the voting hours,” City Manager Ramiro Garza told the council during its meeting last Tuesday night. “The voting hours are now 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. We’re just amending the order so that its matches the same [time] we are doing, as far as the election.”
The two early voting and election day sites in Edinburg are the Hidalgo County Elections Department, located at 101 S. 10th Ave., and the Student Union at UTRGV. Early voting begins today and continues through Nov. 3. Election Day is Nov. 7.
The City Council voted unanimously to hire an attorney for the city look over the contract with Texas Gas Service Co., a division of ONE Gas Inc. On June 15, Texas Gas Service filed a statement of intent to increase rates within the incorporated areas of its Rio Grande Valley Service Area, according to the texasgasservice.com website. The proposed effective date was July 20.
Garza said residents are likely to see an increase in their natural gas bills.
“Whenever we have any [dealings], whether it be with AP, AT&T, or Texas Gas Service, all the cities in the region get together and hire an attorney to look at the case for us, and that’s what occurred,” he said.
In other business, the council approved proclamations declaring Funeral Directors Week Oct. 8 to 14, and Texas Chamber of Commerce Week, Oct. 16 to 20.
“The finality of death brings great pain and sense of loss to family and friends,” Mayor Richard H. Garcia said. “Citizens call upon funeral directors during their time of grieving, when they’re in need of solace, guidance, passion and professional services.”
He also recognized the city’s chamber for its services.
“The Edinburg Chamber of Commerce was created in 1932 to lead the effort in advancing commerce and the quality life in Edinburg, and in the region,” Garcia said.
