City Council hires Information Technology Company for City of Eagle Pass

By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015

At a July 21, 2015 City Council meeting, City Finance Director San Juana Garza advised the City Council that the City of Eagle Pass did not have a computer system network of its own and relied on stand alone personal computers for storage and use of confidential information. Garza also advised City Council that the City of Eagle Pass did not have an Information Technology Director despite having budgeted said position last year.

During the Eagle Pass City Council special meeting held on September 1, 2015, Eagle Pass Mayor Ramsey English Cantu opened up agenda item No.12 which called for the consideration and possible approval of the selection of an Information Technology Company for the improvement of City’s Infrastructure.

Garza stated that the City’s request for proposals (RFP’s) had been set up to improve the information technology infrastructure of the City of Eagle Pass.

“We had only one company responding, South Texas Tech. We would have to purchase some new servers in the amount of $20,500. The equipment would be purchased directly by the city. We would be contracting with South Texas Tech for the labor to implement the structure. Their proposal is for $16,200 for a total of $36,700,” said Garza.

Eagle Pass City Councilwoman Gloria E. Hernandez questioned Garza if the company was being recommended because they were the only ones who had submitted a proposal, and if they were qualified.

“They’re definitely qualified. They do provide services for the school district and several other small offices in town,” replied Garza.

Councilman Luis E. Sifuentes made the motion to approve agenda item No12.

Sifuentes’s motion was then seconded by Mayor Pro-Tem Rudy Villalpando.

During discussion, Hernandez asked if they could get a more detailed explanation as to what was the work that the company would be doing under the proposed contract.

A representative of South Texas Tech began to present a detailed overview of the scope of work that was to be performed for the City of Eagle Pass.

Legal Counsel Heriberto Morales then intervened and asked if the explanation of services could be more general rather than specific due to the sensitivity and possible security threats to the City’s information.

“If you think you cannot do the presentation without going into specifics, we can retire into executive session. That would be my recommendation for security purposes,” said Morales.

City Council then voted to move into executive session under the Texas Open meeting Act Sec. 551.071.

Once back into open session, the Eagle Pass City Council voted unanimously to approve agenda item No.12.

The City of Eagle Pass has moved forward in cementing a safeguarded information technology infrastructure after it was made known publicly by Garza at a city council meeting held on July 21, 2015 that the City did not have a structured computer software network system and that the City was technologically behind with its computer systems capabilities.