County Residents Denounce Junkyard in Neighborhood
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2015, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
A large contingency of Maverick County residents from Las Brisas Subdivision spoke during the Citizens Communication part of the agenda at the Maverick County Commissioners Court meeting held on Monday May 11, 2015 to denounce the establishment of an illegal junkyard within their subdivision in violation of the subdivision’s deed restrictions prohibiting said type ofbusiness.
Las Brisas Subdivision resident Jose Sanchez stated that they are requesting Commissioners Court for their immediate assistance and attention in stopping this illegal junkyard in their subdivision.
“We ask you for your support in assisting and finding the proper solution to the matter as the property code (restrictions) established it when it was set into place,” said Sanchez.
“We had already asked for some type of relief on this issue in September 14, 2007. It is sad that now the documents of such action cannot be found and are not registered at the courthouse,” added Sanchez.
Sanchez presented Commissioners Court with a copy of the action taken in 2007 which was in favor of not allowing for any junkyard to be set in the residential area due to restrictions and regulations established. “These actions were taken by the Maverick County Judge Jose Pepe Aranda,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez further stated that a check of public records through the Maverick County Appraisal District shows that the properties now in question on the Zamora Land are archived as residential properties.
“The properties are archived as residential and not as commercial at the Maverick County Appraisal District,” said Sanchez.
“Our subdivision has restrictions and we do not understand how our public officials will not support us and assure that the very regulations that are established are enforced and adhered to,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez requested Commissioners Court for an answer to their issue and stated that if it was not taken care of by Commissioners Court that they would proceed elsewhere to seek a solution to their issue. “We will take our complaint to the Department of Conduct in Austin, Texas to report the lack of support of our local leaders and lack of action from our code inspectors/enforcers,” added Sanchez.
Sanchez stated that the Maverick County Appraisal District had informed them that the properties in question have not even been submitted to a change of classification to change them from residential to commercial. “They said that they are violating subdivision regulations as they are paying residential taxes and not commercial,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez advised Commissioners Court that the junkyard owner is continuing the influx of junked cars to the disputed properties and that those in charge of enforcement of property codes and regulations are turning their back on the issue. “Everyone says that they have the permits but nobody wants to tell us who gave them those permits,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez stated that they have been in contact with Carmen Ramirez of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality(TCEQ) in Laredo, Texas and that she had stated that there is only one permit that is in place on Memo Robinson Road and not on Buena Vista Street.
“Ramirez also stated that in order to establish whatever junkyard, it has to go through a process and that the final permits are through the County Commissioners Court,” said Sanchez.
Sanchez noted how earlier Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 4 Roberto Ruiz established a precedent and spearheaded a successful effort to shut down an illegal junk yard on Eidson Road.
“The junk yard caught fire and it was deemed a danger to the community. We hope we get the same support that he had,” said Sanchez.
“It is enough that the junkyard on Memo Robinson Road has harmed our families and diminished our property values,” said Sanchez.
“We ask you to please assist us in our efforts and that you not allow a person with money to come and dictate and establish his junkyard within a residential area and in the process end a residential community that has been there for years,” added Sanchez.
“We ask you for an immediate response and plan of action due to the fact that at this very moment they continue bringing in more junked cars into the property, continuously violating established regulations. Please remember that in individuals as in nations, respect of others is peace,” said Sanchez.
Armando Martinez and Veronica Ruiz also spoke on behalf of the concerned Las Brisas Subdivision residents.
Ruiz expressed her concerns but also wanted to recognize Maverick County Commissioner Precinct 2 Rosy Cantu, Maverick County Road and Bridge Director Ernesto Guevara and Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo for being attentive to their concerns and for assisting them in trying to find a solution to the problem. “In this time you all have given us the attention that we had not been given in the past 12 years and we thank you,” said Veronica Ruiz.
Cantu stated that they are in the process of proceeding with a corrective action plan and had already reached out to the business owner but were not able to get a hold of him and that they will continue attempting to make contact with the owner.
Judge Saucedo told the residents that the documents had been found after a long tedious search. “Mrs. Cantu and I went through three years of agendas and we found the information and Mrs. Cantu found the ordinance and is working on it. We do want you to know that your questions don’t go unheard. We are where I think we need to be and I’m glad you addressed the court on that issue,” said Judge Saucedo.
The Las Brisas Subdivision residents hope that their duly-elected public officials perform their duties and oath of office to uphold the laws of the State of Texas and the United States.
