The Edinburg City Council provided updates on COVID-19 and Hurricane Hanna relief measures Tuesday.
City Manager Ron Garza provided an update on the CARES Act, which is an allocation of $11.5 million provided by the county. According to Garza, contracts are being made to ensure that services and goods are received no later than Aug. 25. The city is trying to expend the funds by Aug. 31 to qualify to receive an additional $1.821 million in funds.
Some of the spending includes:
- $2,325 in COVID-19 employee testing,
- $9,000 in UV Sanitizing Light Disinfectant Wand,
- $7,500 in foggers,
- $5,000 in face shields,
- $2,500 in hand sanitizer gallons,
- $90,000 in HEPA room air purifiers and filters,
- $14,225 in sanitization of the Boys & Girls Club and
- $1.250 million for Stimulus Program Aimed at Recovery from COVID (SPARC).
Mayor Richard Molina promoted SPARC 2.0. Under this program, local businesses who have suffered financially due to the pandemic qualify for a $2,o00 grant. To qualify, businesses must meet the following criteria:
- Be located in Edinburg,
- Have fewer than 50 employees,
- Have less than $500,000 in annual sales or revenue,
- Have a City of Edinburg Work Safe Plan and
- Have not received a SPARC grant yet.
The deadline to apply is 5 p.m. Aug. 15. To apply, visit https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/5b7811d4a1b2428794752054ab7a21b7.
On Monday, the city started mosquito fumigation as well as brush and storm debris pickup, due to Hurricane Hanna, which will continue for the next four weeks.
“I just want to encourage the public to eliminate all standing water from your homes,” said Molina. “That is a nesting site for mosquitos. I do want to add that if you are going to be out in public wear anything that you can to eliminate your body being exposed.”
In other business, the city council unanimously adopted an amendment to the Code of Ordinances of the City of Edinburg which adds changes to the procedure of purchases made during a declaration of local disaster.
“I believe we have to give the discretion of the city manager to make emergency purchases as needed,” Councilmember David White said. “If they need to buy a $40,000 pump they need to buy a $40,000 pump, they don’t need to wait for us.”The amendment, as explained by City Attorney Omar Ochoa, will require that intermission regarding any purchases made under any local disaster order for expenditures over $30,000 be presented to the city council at the next regular city meeting. This presentation will require specific information, such as description of service or item being purchased, disclosure of the vendor that is providing the service or item and the amount paid, invoiced or contracted, to be provided.
