City and County negotiating on Maverick County Airport

By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.

The Eagle Pass City Council held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at the Council Chambers at City Hall in Eagle Pass, Texas, addressing several issues including negotiations with Maverick County on the future of the Maverick County Memorial International Airport.

The Eagle Pass City Council held an executive session during the meeting with their legal counsel to discuss the current negotiations with the County of Maverick regarding the Maverick County Memorial International Airport. The City of Eagle Pass and Maveric County have been participating in discussions and negotiations regarding the future of the Maverick County Memorial International Airport and the need to have a fully operational airport to handle the current and future air traffic and trade expected to increase as a result of the Eagle Ford Shale oil and gas boom in Maverick County and Mexico’s impending oil and gas exploration of the Burgos Basin along the U.S.-Mexico border.

The City of Eagle Pass currently does not have its own airport while Maverick County does have the existing Maverick County Memorial International Airport at the Radar Base, located 12 miles north of the City of Eagle Pass on U.S. Highway 277 North. These negotiations have been held in private meetings between Mayor Ramsey English Cantu and County Judge David R. Saucedo and other representatives. Mayor Cantu has stated that the City of Eagle Pass is very interested in having or owning an airport that is fully operational to handle current and future air traffic and passengers.

At its September 17, 2013 meeting, the Eagle Pass City Council approved the hiring of Roberto Gonzalez and Civil Engineer Al Groves to conduct an airport feasibility study at a cost of $30,000 of a real property offered by the C. C. Winn Family on U.S. Highway 277 South near the Eagle Pass Independent School District Student Activity Complex.

Groves and Gonzalez presented their airport feasibility study to the Eagle Pass City Council on Tuesday, March 18, 2014, which left many questions and issues unanswered to City Council during the discussion phase of the agenda item, including the sustainability of such an airport, the costs to build the airport, funding sources for construction of the airport, the operational costs of maintaining an airport, the number of aircrafts projected to use the airport, and the marketing of the airport.

Mayor Pro-Tem Luis E. Sifuentes raised legitimate concerns and questions at the March 18th meeting regarding the Gonzalez and Groves airport feasibility study lacking specificity and details concerning the viability and sustainability of a municipal airport at the Winn property, particularly questioning that a municipal airport does not become a financial detriment to the City of Eagle Pass and its taxpayers.

Maverick County officials were also present at the March 18th meeting to learn of the City’s plans to develop a municipal airport, which would compete with the Maverick County Memorial International Airport that already houses few aircrafts and is operational. Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo and Commissioners Court are concerned that a City of Eagle Pass Municipal Airport on the east side of the city and closer to the city may detrimentally affect the future of the County-owned airport at the Radar Base.

Mayor Cantu stated at the March 18th meeting that “ I know as far as the project is concerned, it is something that Council has been so animate about and I’m glad that our County Officials are at this meeting also. This was something that was asked of Council, to do a feasibility study because of the contribution that was given by the Winn Family.  Now, with this in place and seeing the opportunity at hand, seeing the opportunities that the County has with their airport and the issues currently going on there, I think we need to sit down now and see what is in the best interest, and to come up with a solution that would be beneficial for the residents of Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Whether it be through each respective governing body, the City of Eagle Pass or Maverick County.”

Gonzalez stated at the March 18th meeting that Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requested a workshop meeting with all the parties and stakeholders to discuss how to offer better air service in Eagle Pass and Maverick County.

The Eagle Pass City Council stated at the March 18th meeting that they would be meeting with Maverick County officials to discuss certain issues stemming from the airport study to attempt to determine a favorable outcome for all involved including Eagle Pass and Maverick County taxpayers.

Since the March 18th City Council meeting, Eagle Pass and Maverick County officials have been meeting to discuss what is the best alternative for the community in getting air service and a fully operational airport. One of the issues discussed is whether the Maverick County Memorial International Airport would be the least cost prohibitive alternative to be renovated into a fully operational airport than building a completely new airport at the Winn property outside of the Eagle Pass city limits. Both Eagle Pass and Maverick County representatives agree the need to develop and operate a fully operational airport within the community. The issue is where to build this airport: whether to renovate the County-owned airport or at the Winn property site?

Upon returning in open session at the July 1st meeting, the City Council unanimously approved to table the airport issue as there was no action to be taken at this point since further discussions needed to be held between both entities after the City Council reviews certain information to be provided by County.

In other City Council agenda items, the City Council had the second reading on an Ordinance finding that the current rates of Texas State Natural Gas, Inc. are inadequate and their request for a rate increase of all natural gas users should be approved effective September 1, 2014. The natural gas rate increase ordinance is scheduled to be read and approved at its third and final reading at the next City Council meeting.

Another Agenda item discussed and approved by the City Council the third and final reading of an Ordinance establishing term limits for all Board and Committee appointments of the City Council.

During Citizens Communication, Mayor Cantu and City Council recognized and presented long time City of Eagle Pass employee, Rogelio Barrientos, an award for 17 years of dedicated service and employment with the City of Eagle Pass. The City Council also recognized the City of Eagle Pass Relay for Life Team for their hard work and dedication raising funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and cancer awareness in the community.