Maverick County requests City of Eagle Pass to take over $1 Million TDA Grant
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
The Eagle Pass City Council heard a request from Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo and Francisco Salazar, Jr., Border Field Officer for the Office of Colonias Initiatives in the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, regarding the proposal that the City of Eagle Pass take over the $1 Million Texas Department of Agriculture Grant, which Maverick County Commissioners Court approved to de-obligate (return) for non-compliance, in order to save the funds from being lost to the community for much needed public infrastructure improvements and public housing improvements at a special meeting held on Tuesday, January 20, 2015, at City Hall in Eagle Pass, Texas.
Maverick County Commissioners Court approved to de-obligate (return) $893,047.04 of the TDA Grant funds out of a $1 Million grant due to the County’s failure to meet program guidelines, including filing 2012 and 2013 County Audits, at a January12, 2015, special Commissioners Court meeting. TDA Contract No. 711003 is a $1 Million grant to fund the Maverick Colonias Self-Help Center Program benefitting four colonias within Maverick County, including Loma Bonita, Las Quintas, Las Brisas, and Deer Run Subdivision.
The TDA $1 Million grant is supposed to help 4,432 persons in Maverick County, of which 3,546 (80%) persons must be of low to moderate income. The TDA Contract No. 711003 provides funding for Solid Waste Removal, Technology Access to Computers and the Internet up to 1,800 visits by Colonia residents, a Tool Lending Library for property owners constructing or improving their homes up to 350 persons, Construction Skills Training and Classes up to 100 persons, Residential Rehabilitation of 9 residences up to $25,000 each benefitting 27 persons, and a Colonias Self-Help Home Repair program of 17 residences up to $5,000 each benefitting 51 persons. This TDA $1 Million grant for the benefit of 4,432 Maverick Countians will be lost as well as future Colonias Self-Help grants unless the City of Eagle Pass agrees to rescue and take over Maverick County’s Contract No. 711003.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo wrote a letter to Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu on January 14, 2015, two days after Commissioners Court de-obligated the $1 Million TDA grant, stating that “I wish to offer you (City of Eagle Pass) the opportunity to carry out this program. The program awards $1,000,000 dollars….Please take into consideration that my concern is to the citizens of our community. The City of Eagle Pass is the only other entity this program will take into consideration.” Judge Saucedo states in his January 14th letter that “Maverick County currently runs the Colonias Self-Help Center Program, and the Office of Colonias Initiatives (OCI) recognizes the challenges Maverick County has had over the last two years in implementing the current contract, specifically with required submission of 2012 and 2013 Single Audit Reports.”
During the discussion of Agenda Item No. 6, County Judge Saucedo stated that the TDA Colonias Self-Help Center Program was brought to Maverick County initially 12 years ago as a pilot program for the State to provide low and moderate income Colonia residents much needed public improvements and training. Four colonias are serviced through this program, including Loma Bonita, Las Brisas, Las Quintas, and Deer Run Subdivision. Saucedo noted that the Colonias Self-Help Center Program had started with $500,000 but was later increased to its current $1 Million funding due to the large demand within Maverick County.
Judge Saucedo told City Council that “We were able to work the project with no problems in funding. Unfortunately, what has transpired is that Maverick County is out of compliance for the fact that we do not have audits in place. As you know, and are aware of the issues, that we are having in Maverick County with our audits and our county auditor not being able to finish these things.”
“What we are offering here is a great opportunity for the City of Eagle Pass to take over this project,” said Judge Saucedo.
Judge Saucedo noted that in speaking with Francisco Salazar, Jr. of the Office of Colonias Initiatives, the only other entity that the State will work with under this Contract No. 711003 is the City of Eagle Pass.
Judge Saucedo stated that he had no doubt that the City of Eagle Pass could make the program flourish and assure that the services are provided to low and moderate income residents of these four colonias, and it would assist the City of Eagle Pass in understanding the needs of the colonias, particularly if the City chose to annex them.
Judge Saucedo pleaded “As far as we are concerned, we are willing to do whatever it takes to make sure that the program is successful.” Judge Saucedo noted that the County has a building in Loma Bonita where the program is housed, including a tool lending library, computer lab and other commodities utilized to run the program and that the City of Eagle Pass was more than welcomed to all of it as he was just trying to make sure that the services to the low and moderate income residents could be saved and provided to the community.
Judge Saucedo and City Council discussed just what exactly does the Colonias Self-Help Center Program includes and does for low and moderate income residents.
“When I look at the situation, I also look at it as an investment into the community. It’s $1,000,000 that TDA is willing to invest into Maverick County. I think it behooves not only the County but the City to have a program such as this one because there is a lot of other counties advocating and doing their best to get these funds into their communities,” Judge Saucedo told City Council “I know that you all want what’s best for Maverick County and the City of Eagle Pass and for our residents,” said Judge Saucedo.
City Council attentively listened to the presentation by both Judge Saucedo and Francisco Salazar, Jr. of the Office of Colonias Initiatives on the details of the program and requirements.
Salazar advised City Council that the proposal for a new contract for these funds be done with the City of Eagle Pass substituting or replacing Maverick County as the grant recipient and administrator. Salazar noted that if the City of Eagle Pass chose to take over the program, the $1 Million grant would be saved and benefit its intended 4,432 persons within Maverick County. Salazar stated that the City of Eagle Pass would already have a foundation for this program since Maverick County already owned or had a building to operate the program from, a tool lending library, computers and internet access, and the list of persons whom already had requested assistance. “It would not take a lot to start up this program at all,” said Salazar. Salazar stated that he would commit himself and his office to assisting the City through the process to assure a smooth transition into the grant program. Salazar noted that the City could also subcontract part of the project.
City Council discussed the application timelines and process with Salazar.
Salazar advised City Council that he hoped the City would apply for the program by April 2015 so that it could be presented for discussion and approval at the next Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs meeting. “We are dedicated to Maverick County and are trying to keep the monies in this area. If we don’t contract with the City, then effectively $1,000,000 will be spread out amongst the other counties and there will be no more Colonias Self Help Center Program in this area,” said Salazar.
Eagle Pass Mayor Cantu noted that although the program is for colonias outside the city limits, the program would allow the City to learn and understand the needs of these colonias and residents as part of its annexation plans in the immediate future.
“In my opinion, I feel that it is in the best interest to the community as a whole because not only is it an economic indicator for those individuals that are getting their services but also for the contractors that are fixing things including purchases that will be made and serve as an economic prosper tool for our community, county and city,” said Mayor Cantu. “I’m very interested in the project as Mayor,” added Cantu.
Mayor Cantu noted that city administration is currently busy with other city projects and grants and that the city might have to study the possibility of subcontracting the administration of this grant.
City Manager Gloria Barrientos stated that she had many questions regarding the proposal and that she could not give a recommendation due to the lack of time to go through many details and concerns such as responsibilities, non-compliance and other issues which she would like to address in a meeting with both Salazar and Judge Saucedo to get a better understanding of the proposal.
“I would like to meet with you if possible, all of you, our finance staff, possibly our city directors to get as much detail as we possibly can to make an educated recommendation. I feel that it is a great project and, understand that both entities need to work together because it’s the same public that both entities serve, but I would like to get more information and details into what is being proposed,” said City Manager Barrientos.
City Council concurred and motioned that city administration meet with TDA and Maverick County to discuss the overall Self Help Colonias Center Program Project and to bring back a proposal for the February 3, 2015 meeting to determine if the City of Eagle Pass will take over the $1 Million TDA grant. City Council unanimously approved the motion.
