A resident voiced her concern about bids to purchase equipment for the Department of Solid Waste Management at the Edinburg City Council meeting last Tuesday. The council later approved and explained how the process would be carried out.
During public comments, Objective Watchers of the Legal System (O.W.L.) member Fern McClaugherty asked the councilmembers about the bids listed under items “H,” “I,” “J,” “K” and “L.”
McClaugherty was concerned the city would be doing a lease to purchase of the equipment needed for the Department of Solid Waste Management. This would cost more than purchasing the equipment.
“I hope that y’all won’t just whoosh and go through this and check and see which is best,” she said. “Y’all want to do a good job, then let’s see you save our money and save it in the best way. Thank you.”
Before authorizing the last purchase on the agenda, the councilmembers entered the discussion addressing the comment made by McClaugherty.
“We have a big responsibility and you have a lot of work to do, and we want you to know that we aren’t doing this without looking at it,” Councilmember David Torres said. “I think it went through advisory board here.”
Mayor Richard Molina confirmed that the item went through an advisory board.
Ramiro L. Gomez, director of the Department of Solid Waste Management, explained that the city’s law of purchase of capital allows financing of equipment.
“That allows us to finance these purchases of equipment for the allowed time of the actual useful life of these pieces of equipment,” Gomez said. “So, [if] the useful life of the piece of equipment is for seven years, we would actually finance for seven years.”
The councilmembers approved the awarding of bids to purchase the following equipment for the Department of Solid Waste Management:
–Bid No. 2019-44, purchase of two half-ton trucks to Caldwell County Chevrolet of Caldwell in the amount of $56,390;
–Bid No. 2019-45, purchase of two new Residential Automated Right Hand Drive Side Load Retriever to Rush Truck Centers of Pharr in the amount of $639,770;
–Bid No. 2019-47, purchase of two Truck Mounted Knuckleboom with Refuse Collection Dumpbody to Rush Truck Centers of Pharr in the amount of $426,809.70;
–Bid No. 2019-40, purchase of one new Steel Wheel Landfill Compactor to Holt Cat of Edinburg in the amount of $1,110,800;
–and the purchase of a 1050K Crawler Dozer through Buyboard, a Cooperative Purchasing Entity in the State of Texas, from Doggett Heavy Machinery Services of San Juan in the amount of $664,862.
As the only resolution on the agenda, the council approved an amnesty period to waive fines of the overdue materials of the Dustin M. Sekula Memorial Library.
The amnesty period will take place the entire month of April, in which residents will be able to return their overdue library materials without paying a fine.
This action is taken “in an effort to recuperate library materials and encourage patrons to once again return to the library and have full access to all available services,” the agenda item states.
In other business, Martiniano Martinez, the Parks and Recreation supervisor, was presented the Patriotic Employer Award by Jesus A. Rodriguez, area chair of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
“I’m going to accept this award on behalf of the city, the mayor, the council, all the employers, the employees, everybody that has been a part of this,” Martinez said. “I did not get this award by myself. … Most of all, I would like to thank all of the veterans and all the reserves, because they are the ones that should really be getting credit for this award.”
Rodriguez also recognized the city with a statement of support “for the outstanding and commitment of the city to the veterans, and the reserves, and guardsmen that work, that are employees of the city.”
During the mayor’s reports, Molina said, “You know, we always have something good happening in Edinburg.”
He announced the official unveiling of the renderings of the Edinburg South Texas Art and Cultural Center.
“This has been a dream since the ’90s, and this council is excited to make this venue a reality for our community,” Molina said.
Molina also announced the kickoff of the Little League season to be held on Saturday. The kickoff will take place at the UTRGV Baseball Stadium during the opening ceremony. Molina will be throwing the first pitch at the ceremony.
For more information on events visit cityofedinburg.com or the city’s Facebook page @CityOfEdinburgGovernment
