County Commissioners and City Council hold Joint Workshop on Community Issues
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
Maverick County Commissioners Court and the Eagle Pass City Council held a joint workshop meeting on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at the City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade West Room, located at 3295 Bob Rogers Drive in Eagle Pass, Texas, to discuss several important intergovernmental issues and agreements between the two entities.
Among the issues discussed at the joint workshop meeting were Parkland Dedication Fees, Storm Drainage Water, Daily Prisoner Care and Debt Payment Schedule, Options for EMS/Fire Protection, Type Four landfill, and the Public Library.
One of the items discussed was the daily prisoner care of City of Eagle Pass Police Department arrestees at the Maverick County Sheriff’s Department Tom Bowles Detention Center without compensation and the proposed charges being sought for said detention services to the City of Eagle Pass by Maverick County.
The potential payment for the housing or detention of Eagle Pass Police Department arrestees at the Tom Bowles Detention Center was first discussed during a Maverick County Commissioners Court meeting held on Monday, July 13, 2015. County Commissioner of Precinct 1 Jerry Morales stated that he was bringing the item to the court for discussion and possible input from the county’s legal counsel and auditor.
“As I understand right now, the City of Eagle Pass conducts an arrest and they get processed in the City but once they get processed, the arrestees get sent to the Tom Bowles Detention Center. I understand that if one of these inmates gets ill while in the custody of the Sheriff, all those medical costs get absorbed by the county,” said Morales. “This is something that I’ve been researching and maybe we can come up with some type of agreement,” said Morales.
Morales asked Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber if he had any information on the validity of such proposal.
“When we have an inmate and they get sick, we have to take care of them. It’s our responsibility. On Friday, there was one inmate that was arrested by the Eagle Pass Police department and on Saturday he caused damage to one of the cells, he broke some of the windows. We do have costs that we incur. We have some damages and also we have to take care of their medical issues,” said Sheriff Schmerber.
Maverick County Judge David R. Saucedo stated that he understood where it was coming from but that it is a real touchy issue.
“What I don’t want it to escalate to is, that we as the County charge the city for a service because the City has decided to charge us for a service that maybe they should provide,” said Judge Saucedo.
Judge Saucedo noted that he did not want it to become a teeter totter and back and forth between the city and the county leaving the taxpayer in a bind.
“Maverick County is unique. It’s the only county that has more population living outside the city limits than inside the city limits. It shouldn’t be that way,” said Judge Saucedo.
Legal Counsel Woody Wilson noted that it is common for Counties to charge Cities for the housing or detention of municipal arrestees or inmates.
Sheriff Schmerber stated the County has a contract with the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas for the detention of its tribal members for pay at a set amount per day detained.
The County and City will look into entering in an agreement for the housing or detention of City arrestees at the County’s Tom Bowles Detention Center for pay at an agreed amount per day.
Another important issue discussed during the joint workshop meeting was Fire Protection and EMS Ambulance Services rendered by the City of Eagle Pass to Maverick County and the payment for these services and the amount owed by the County to the City for these services during the past years.
Maverick County is estimated to have a debt to the City of Eagle Pass for fire protection, EMS ambulance service, and trash collection services of approximately $500,000.
Maverick County currently pays up to $438,562 per year to the City of Eagle Pass for these critical public services.
Several years ago, the City of Eagle Pass under the administration of former City Manager Glenn Starnes did stop providing fire protection and ambulance services to the County for one day during negotiations for payment of arrearages owed for these services. Maverick County residents did not have fire protection and EMS ambulance services for this one day. The City’s drastic measure worked as the two entities agreed on an agreement to repay the arrearages owed.
The County and City also discussed the issue of Parkland Dedication fees for subdivisions approved within the County, which was originally raised at a County Commissioners Court during a meeting held on Monday, September 14, 2015. Commissioner Jerry Morales raised this issue and recommended a joint workshop between the two entities to resolve this issue. Morales also raised Subdivision Guidelines within the City’s Extra Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) and the adoption of a Master Plan by the County for discussion.
Parkland Dedication and Fees are defined under the City of Eagle Pass Code of Ordinances, Article V- Parkland Dedication. The City requires new subdivisions to have recreational areas in the form of public parks as necessary and beneficial for the well-being of citizens. However, maintenance and operation of these public parks cost money to the City or County. The Ordinance requires subdivision developers to pay certain Parkland Dedication Fees to pay for these public parks. The City collects or waives these Parkland Dedication Fees without compensating the County for its share of these fees or maintaining public parks within subdivisions in the County. The two entities agreed into looking into entering into an agreement on this issue in the future. To see the complete ordinance pertaining to Parkland Dedication, you can go to https://www.municode.com/library/tx/eagle_pass/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH23SU.
Another important issue discussed at the joint workshop was regarding Storm Water Drainage problems within the City and County. Recent floods during the past five years have highlighted the serious flooding and storm water drainage issues facing City and County residents. Both entities agreed to work together in solving the flooding and storm water drainage problems in the community.
The City of Eagle Pass and County of Maverick public officials recognized the need for both entities to work together on these important public issues in order to improve the quality of life in the community.
