Commissioners Court approves Assessment Review for the Maverick County Memorial International Airport
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Maverick County Commissioners Court held their regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 2014, at the Maverick County Courthouse Annex Building located at 500 Quarry Street in Eagle Pass, Texas, addressing negotiations between Maverick County and the City of Eagle Pass regarding the Maverick County Memorial International Airport at the Radar Base.
Commissioners Court unanimously approved to request a complete need assessment review for the Maverick County Memorial International Airport by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Aviation Division.
The TxDOT Aviation Division helps cities and counties to obtain and disburse federal and state funds for general and reliever aviation airports included in the 300-airport Texas Airport System Plan (TASP). The Aviation Division participates in the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) State Block Grant Program, which implements a federal improvement program for general aviation airports.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo stated that Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu requested Maverick County to seek a needs assessment review from the TxDOT Aviation Division during recent County and City of Eagle Pass negotiations regarding the Maverick County Memorial International Airport. “The City of Eagle Pass is asking if the Texas Department of Transportation Aviation Division can come in and do a needs assessment on our existing facility,” said County Judge Saucedo.
“We continue to stand by what we said at the very beginning that we already have an airport, there is no need to try to pursue one anywhere else. It looks like the City has become more favorable on the stance of working with the County to try to get the airport up and going. So they are focusing on what we already have existing instead of trying to pursue one on their own. They are asking for a need assessment,” said Judge Saucedo.
Judge Saucedo also stated that everything remains on the table, “solutions, whether the County and the City can work together on this or if we were at any point going to give them the opportunity to take lead on the project.” Judge Saucedo also stated that no concrete figures have been mentioned. “If Maverick County were to relinquish that authority, I don’t think we’d be allowed to just let the City, take it over, the property has value and we as an entity have a responsibility to Maverick County taxpayers.
Saucedo added that they have come to a consensus that there are many avenues that can be explored and taken between the two governmental entities. “But what would be good is to see how much exactly would be needed to get the Maverick County Memorial International Airport up to scope. They want to make sure that we get a detailed report. Whether it be for the City or County it would be good,” said Judge Saucedo. The Maverick County Memorial International Airport is currently in operation at the old Army Air Base Field known as the Radar Base, approximately 12 miles north of Eagle Pass on U.S. Highway 277 North.
Another agenda item discussed and approved was the ratification of a Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Grant Program Application with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) for Maverick County.
The FEMA PDM Grant Program Application provides funds for hazard mitigation planning and projects on an annual basis. The PDM Grant Program was set in place to reduce overall risk to people and structures while reducing reliance on federal funding if an actual disaster were to occur.
Judge Saucedo stated that the item was brought to Commissioners Court to subsequently show what is being done to address the issues regarding the recent flooding in parts of Maverick County due to the June 19-20, 2014 heavy rainfall and the cresting of Elm Creek over its banks, causing flooding damages to County residents.
“We need to get this through to see if Maverick County will qualify for this program. This deals with the flooding situation. We will be seeing if we qualify for more funds to work on the flood plain,” said Judge Saucedo. The application will be filed as an extension of the already existing application filed on an annual basis.
Commissioners Court also approved three agenda items pertaining to the CETRZ grant that was recently awarded to Maverick County for the amount of $397,000 from Senate Bill 1747 for Counties that are affected by the Oil and Gas industry. Senator Carlos I. Uresti was a sponsor of Senate Bill 1747 to assist Counties within the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas region receive state funding to repair roads, highways, and infrastructure damaged by increased oil and gas traffic.
Commissioners Court approved appointing a Maverick County Official as the assigned representative for the Texas Department of Transportation certification form related to the grant, a resolution order for the CETRZ Grant, and contracted the services of Creative Development Services (CDS) for the administration and management of the Texas Department of Transportation grant and zone creation through the CETRZ grant.
