During last Tuesday’s Edinburg City Council meeting, the new city manager was introduced and upcoming events, including the November general election, were discussed.
New City Manager Juan Guerra previously served as Pharr’s city manager from 2015 to 2018. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps, was a certified public accountant, a U.S. customs broker and has a master’s degree in business.
“My goal is to build up the team and that starts with analyzing them, trying to build them up and, hopefully, have them be the best department directors in the entire region,” he said.
Guerra wants other cities to look up to Edinburg. He said he is already working on the implementation of the Baldrige Excellence Framework at City Hall.
“It’s a global framework that maximizes operational performance,” Guerra said. “It aligns the organization to move in the same direction. If you’re able to do that, then you can take care of everyone’s problems quicker and more cost effectively.”
Mayor Richard Molina announced the upcoming November general election.
“Early voting begins on Monday, Oct. 22,” Molina said. “We do have four propositions on the ballot. … We just want you to vote because your vote is truly your voice.”
Proposition A would allow the city council to appoint a judge to serve as the presiding municipal judge.
Proposition B would limit elected and appointed officials to two four-year terms.
“The law is very confusing on the way it’s written, using the word ‘consecutive’ and ‘successive,’” Molina said. “It allows you to serve three terms and then take a term off and come back again and serve three more terms.”
Propositions C would allow the city council to issue and sell $20 million in general obligation bonds to build four detention ponds on Doolittle Road, Schunior Road, Sugar Road and South Veterans Boulevard, as well as the Dawson Drainage Improvement.
If passed, Proposition C would cost property taxpayers an additional $44.13 annually, according to a video on the city website.
Proposition D would allow the city council to issue and sell $10 million in general obligation bonds for roadway improvements to Alberta Road, Schunior Road, Sugar Road and Jackson Road, as well as right-of-way acquisitions. Excess funds may be used for building other street or drainage improvements.
If passed, Proposition D would cost property taxpayers an additional $22.05 per year, according to the video.
O.W.L. member Fern McClaugherty spoke against the propositions.
“Gentlemen, I am sorry to advise you that the O.W.L.S. will be actively opposing your proposal for the $30 million bond sale for the purpose of drainage and street improvements,” McClaugherty said.
She said it is not because the improvements are not needed.
“But, rather, that the people cannot afford more taxes,” McClaugherty said. “All they have to do is go to Hidalgo County Appraisal District [http://www.hidalgoad.org], and you will see the different entities that we have.”
She listed several entities that are also looking to raise the tax rate, including one drainage district that is looking to raise its tax rate by 3 cents.
“This council has not shown ability to control its spending and has on various occasions acted in political manners rather than in the best financial interest of the people,” McClaugherty said.
Molina said the city has received complaints about drainage problems.
“The mayor and the council do have the power to raise taxes without going out to the voter,” he said. “A lot of the complaints that we have gotten are drainage issues, roadway issues, from the public. We don’t have the money to do those things today.”
Molina said the only other recommended option was given by Pilar Rodriguez, the previous city manager.
“To go out for bonds and give the option to the taxpayers if they want to fix some of those issues today,” Molina said. “We decided to put it on the taxpayer. We didn’t raise taxes. We could’ve. We didn’t give the $30 million to the courthouse. We could have. We could have sold Ebony Hills Golf Course. We didn’t. So, we are listening to our constituents and we are putting it back to the taxpayers.”
The mayor invited the public to attend Los Muertos Bailan, a celebration of Dia de los Muertos, which is scheduled at 6 p.m. Saturday at the Edinburg City Hall Courtyard. The free event will feature a Catrín/a costume contest with children and adult competition categories.
