Eagle Pass City Council Seeks To Name Newly Renovated $3.5 Million Historic Eagle Pass Public Library In Honor of Mayor Ramsey English Cantu
The City of Eagle Pass, Texas City Council have scheduled a final special meeting on Thursday, December 28, 2017, at 11 A.M. at City Hall, 100 South Monroe Street, Eagle Pass, Texas “to discuss and take possible action on the naming/renaming of the Eagle Pass Public Library located on 589 Main Street, Eagle Pass, Texas to recognize the dedication, time, and effort provided by Mayor Ramsey English Cantu to the Renovation Project.”
According to the City Council’s Agenda for the December 28, 2017 Special Meeting, the Eagle Pass City Council seeks to literally name the Historic Eagle Pass Public Library in honor of current Mayor Ramsey English Cantu for simply doing his publicly elected duty to govern the City of Eagle Pass, including the renovation project of the Public Library financed by $3.5 Million of Taxpayers Bonds plus $1.8 Million of the City Hotel Occupancy Room Tax Funds which were used to reimburse the City for part of the project costs.
The Historic Eagle Pass Public Library would be renamed the “Ramsey English Cantu Eagle Pass Public Library” if City Council approves the controversial Agenda item at the December 28th Special Meeting.
If this is the case, then the City Council may possibly start naming other City of Eagle Pass public projects financed by taxpayers monies, for example, “The Rudy Villalpando Municipal Gymnasium” being constructed in Burr Park at Los Angeles Heights, “The Yolanda P. Ramon Municipal Skate Park” being constructed underneath the North Veterans Boulevard Overpass at Flowers Street, “The Luis E. Sifuentes City of Eagle Pass Public Safety Headquarters” being constructed at the former EPA toxic and hazardous site at the National Guard Armory at South Monroe Street, “The Gloria E. Hernandez City of Eagle Pass International Center for Trade” located at Bob Rogers Drive, and “The William ‘Billy’ Davis International Bridge No. 1.”
What about past mayors such as Art Flores, Rodolfo “Fito” Barrera, Roberto Barrientos, Jesus Sanchez, Arturo Garcia, Rogelio Flores, Joaquin L. Rodriguez, Jose “Pepe” Aranda, Chad Foster, and many more? Are they not worthy of being honored too?
The newly renovated $3.5 Million Plus Eagle Pass Public Library Project was over a year late in its completion and its original cost ballooned during Mayor Ramsey English Cantu’s Administration and Oversight of the Project.
This is not to suggest that Mayor Ramsey English Cantu is not worthy, but rather raises the issue of whether the citizens and taxpayers of the City of Eagle Pass have been provided sufficient notice and an opportunity to comment on this important issue as well as has City Council given serious thought and consideration to the wishes of the citizens and taxpayers of the City of Eagle Pass concerning this issue.
A local taxpayer requesting anonymity stated how much money are the lettering or signs going to cost the City of Eagle Pass to purchase and install in front of the Historic Eagle Pass Public Library the name of “Ramsey English Cantu Eagle Pass Public Library?” This signage costs will definitely add to the existing costs overruns of the Eagle Pass Public Library Renovation Project.
Another City taxpayer also requesting anonymity stated that this City Council Special Meeting Agenda Item is controversial and being slipped past taxpayers during the holidays when many citizens are out of town on Christmas and New Year’s Day vacations and unable to express their opinions on the matter.
One other local taxpayer noted that during the re-grand opening ceremony of the historic Eagle Pass Public Library held on December 20, 2017, Mayor Ramsey English Cantu stated that the Historic Eagle Passs Public Library belonged to the citizens and taxpayers of Eagle Pass.
Another local taxpayer stated that a literary giant more worthy of having the Eagle Pass Public Library named after him was the legendary Mexican writer and novelist Jose Vasconcelos who attended public school in Eagle Pass during childhood.
A local United States military veteran suggested naming the Historic Eagle Pass Public Library as “The Eagle Pass Veterans Memorial Public Library.”
Another local citizen noted that the Historic Eagle Pass Public Library is haunted by ghosts.
One other taxpayer suggested placing a plaque inside or outside of the Historic Eagle Pass Public Library documenting the names of the Eagle Pass City Council, including Mayor Cantu, responsible for the $3.5 Million Plus Renovation Project.
The recently completed $3.5 Million Plus Eagle Pass Public Library Renovation Project was just opened on December 20th, and, just one week later the Eagle Pass City Council seeks to name the Historic Eagle Pass Public Library in honor of Mayor Ramsey English Cantu.
The citizens and taxpayers of Eagle Pass deserve better and need more time to debate this important issue than just three days notice (72 hours) of posting a public agenda of a special meeting at the end of the year (2017) for naming or renaming of The Historic Eagle Pass Public Library.
One taxpayer suggested just leaving it as The Eagle Pass Public Library while another suggested that the City Council have a name contest submitted by local taxpayers and citizens, or, in the alternative, have a public referendum for taxpayers to vote on this important issue.
