Commissioners Court deny Maverick County Solid Waste Authority Employees Pay Raises
By: Jose G. Landa©
Maverick County Commissioners Court voted unanimously to deny a pay raise across the table for 14 employees of the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority (Landfill) at the Commissioners Court meeting held on Monday, December 10, 2012. During the Commissioners Court meeting, Assistant Landfill Manager Mike Castillo addressed the Court during the discussion and possible approval of item #21 on the agenda which was to approve the raises and to ratify the vote of the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority, Inc. for the fiscal year 2013.
During the discussion forum, Maverick County Judge David Saucedo questioned Assistant Landfill Manager Mike Castillo on the actions that the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority Board had previously taken to approve the wage raises on December 4, 2012.
Castillo stated that the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority Board had approved the wage raises for the upcoming fiscal year 2013 at their meeting on December 4, 2012.
County Commissioner for Precinct 2 Cesar Flores questioned Castillo why the materials presented to them did not reflect the employees previous year’s wages compared to the 2013 wages to determine if they were receiving any wage increases.
Castillo then stated to the Court that the increase was of 5 percent from the previous wages paid to the employees in question.
County Judge David Saucedo then stated that he thought what was happening was an interpretation on what authority the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority believes it has and that the County needed to revisit this issue. “I believe we gave the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority more authority because we saw that you weren’t getting much cooperation from the previous Auditor,” Judge Saucedo said.
“This is a different situation and I do feel compelled because I voted against pay raises this year and my question is where does the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority fall in all of this? Are you independent from the County or are you part of the County? I believe that it is an item that needs to be revisited and looked at. I also understand the concerns from the Court Commissioners on why this item needs to be appropriately looked at,” Judge Saucedo stated.
Maverick County Attorney Ricardo Ramos then addressed Commissioners Court and answered the question regarding the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority’s standing stating that the Solid Waste Authority is legally part of the County. “They are just an extension of the County of Maverick that serves to help in the functioning of Solid Waste Authority matters (Landfill).This is a matter that goes on what the County desires,” Ramos said.
“That being the case I go on what I have stated and what I have been going on for the past year and what I said from the very beginning,” Judge Saucedo said.
Commissioners Court proceeded to vote against the wage increase for the Landfill employees deciding not to ratify the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority is vote to increased the employees wages for fiscal year 2013.
One of the many questions that have arisen from the actions at the Maverick County Solid Waste Authority was addressed by Maverick County taxpayer, Jose Reyna, a resident of Precinct 2 at the beginning of the meeting during the citizen’s communication part of the assembly.
Reyna asked Commissioners Court to look into why the Solid Waste Authority thinks it is appropriate to even consider spearheading a pay raise at this time for their employees. Stating that he firmly believes that the taxpayers of Maverick County deserve an explanation from the Solid Waste Authority as an extension of the County.“The taxpayers are a part of this. We were handed over a bill for the onset of the landfill as part of a tax increase on an 8 million dollar bond for this project and I believe that we as citizens deserve answers to be informed,” Reyna said.
“As a resident of Precinct 2, I would like to have an answer on an ongoing situation with the excess of a tire problem that we have seen for years in the Chula Vista area. Why is it that we experience this type of problems when we have a Landfill that we the taxpayers have taken on the cost with an increase of taxes on an 8 million dollar bond?, Reyna asked.
“Why are we experiencing this type of problems? Is the landfill being handled as a private business or is it the taxpayers? I also ask the Court if they can assist the community to address the ongoing dilemma on why the Solid Waste Authority has now stated that the Landfill cell #1 is on the verge to be filled to capacity ahead of schedule. And what is it that is being brought in from other areas into our landfill? What kind of waste is being brought in by the oil and gas companies and the other counties that are buying space at our landfill? I believe that the Maverick County Taxpayers have a right to know,” Reyna cocluded.
