By Anton Riecher
Legal requirements governing the construction of government buildings in Texas may delay work on a Medina County Emergency Services District No. 4 ambulance substation slated to be built in Natalia later this year.
By a vote of 4-0, the ESD4 board of commissioners voted April 9 to contact their attorney, Ken Campbell, for clarification on architecture requirements to assemble a pre-engineered metal building that would serve as the new sub-station.
EMS Director Jason Miller warned the board that hiring an architect or engineer to draw plans and specifications for the new structure could mean a considerable push back in the project timeline…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Category: City & County Politics
Information you need to know about the City of Devine, Medina County Commissioner’s Court, City of Natalia, City of Lytle, and our local Emergency Service Districts.
Lytle votes to update water, sewer mapping
By Anton Riecher
An agreement with an engineering consultant to update mapping of the water and sewer system in Lytle was approved by the city council Monday during its regular monthly meeting.
On a motion by District 3 Alderman David Emery, seconded by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez, the council approved an agreement with San Antonio-based Cobb, Fendley & Associates for phase one of a two-phase project to update the city’s capital improvement plan.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said the first phase will cover general mapping of the city’s water and sewer…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Lytle council authorizes eminent domain in town citing “public necessity” in 3-0 vote
By Anton Riecher
This Monday, the Lytle City Council declared a “public necessity” to acquire right-of-way property along Railroad and McDonald streets for a new 12-inch water main. The action authorizes the city staff to move forward with eminent domain proceedings if the property cannot be acquired through purchase negotiations.
“We have sent initial offers for some easements that we need to acquire along that route because of the amount of utilities that are in this particular project,” City Administrator Zachary Meadows said…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
Devine “Water & sewer rate increases to be discussed”, another increase to hit in the fall
The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases” next Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine.
City leaders want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
“At a public hearing people are able to talk and the council and I too. We can have conversations,” said David Jordan, City of Devine Administrator.
“They will not be limited to 3 minutes per topic like a regular meeting. This will be a public hearing; it is called to hear from the citizens. They can ask questions of any of us and we can talk to them,” said Jordan.
“It’s a time to listen to the public and a time for us to explain how we got to this point, where we are trying to get to, why, the lack of small incremental raises in last 7 years that could have elevated the need for these bigger increases, and our deteriorating infrastructure. I was able to get a grant to cover the cost of a rate study from an outside professional source, Community Underling, instead of using our office staff so it would be unbiased and not look like we were just doing this because we wanted to,” said Jordan.
“The results of the study suggested we needed to do a onetime jump in rates, but the council voted to spread it out over two increases to help make it a easier on the customers. This was just to break even, not to gain momentum,” he said.
All interested parties, groups, or individuals are encouraged to attend this public hearing and participate in the discussion.
For more information, please contact the City of Devine at (830) 663-2804.
This Notice of Public Hearing comes after an outcry by citizens on the high rate increases that took effect in February and are set to increase again in the fall or October 1 of this year.
“We can take as long as we need for the public hearing. The regular meeting will begin immediately afterwards since it’s in the same location since it is the third Tuesday of the month,” said Jordan. More info in notice on page 5.
Devine tackles challenging water system upgrades
On March 19th, 2024, the Devine City Council approved a $2.5-million-dollar Certificate of Obligation to build a new $750K ground water storage tank. After further consultation it was decided to refurbish the existing 500k ground water storage tank, by replacing the roof, pressure washing, sand blasting and painting the tank.
Taking the time to rehab the existing tank rather than spending $2.5 million on a replacement, will allow the City to make much more progress and upgrades to water infastructure in Devine.
However, City administrator Jordan noted, “Due to their not being any concrete drawings of the existing infrastructure, the process to get this project started has been challenging…Our Public Works crews worked tirelessly using the hydro-vac machine to locate and expose all existing pipes, valves and connections entering the Warhorse ground water storage tank site.”
“This process has allowed the city to install inserta-valves and isolate the ground water storage tank and bypass into the elevated storage tank.”
The new system will now allow better control of water pressure with cut-off valves.
All city water will be redirected and flowed through the other water tower near the golf course for approximately four weeks until the tank and pumphouse project below the Warhorse tower is complete.
“The city has consulted with its engineers and tank specialist to identify any concerns. Our goal is taking all necessary precautions to avoid any interruption in water service to the community during this rehabilitation process.
The expected completion for this rehab project is at the end of June 2025.
Project Cinco reinvestment zone approved by Lytle council
By Anton Riecher
Property expected to be home to the proposed Project Cinco data center was designated a reinvestment zone by the Lytle City Council during a March 26 special meeting, the initial move required in anticipated tax abatement action set for April.
No comments were addressed to the council during the public hearing required before the reinvestment zone vote.
City Administrator Zachary Meadows said establishing the reinvestment zone for the 440-acre site near the Coal Mine neighborhood is required under the Texas Tax Code.
“This is the first step in the request by Rowan Digital for purposes of pursuing an eventual tax abatement under (Section) 312,” he said.
On a motion by District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez, seconded by District 2 Alderman Richard Hughes, the council voted 4-0 to approve the reinvestment zone. District 3 Alderman David Emery was absent for the vote.
Meadows suggested that the city council serve as the board of directors for the reinvestment zone.
Project Cinco is described as a “hyperscaler” undertaking – a large scale build-to-suit data center that will provide data storage and Cloud computing services to millions of users. Rowan hopes to break ground on its $500 million facility this summer, bringing nearly 600 construction jobs to the community.
The council voted in January to extend the city extraterritorial jurisdiction to include the Project Cinco property. ETJ refers to an area surrounding the city’s corporate limits where it has powers related to land development and annexation, but not full municipal services.
Plans announced by Rowan call for requesting the city annex the property into the city limits proper.
In December, Medina County commissioners unanimously approved an 80 percent property tax break covering the initial 10 years of Project Cinco. Rowan predicts that the facility will yield a $3.6 billion economic impact on Medina County over 20 years.
It is also expected to yield tens of millions in tax revenue shared by Medina County, the city of Lytle, the Lytle and Natalia school districts and other local authorities. School districts may not enter into abatement agreements.
Action on the actual Lytle tax abatement is scheduled for April 28, Meadows said…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING AT www.devinenewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
City of Devine invites you to public hearing on Water & Sewer Rate Increases
“Another increase” to hit in fall
The Devine City Council will host a Public Hearing to discuss “Water & Sewer Rate Increases”. They want to hear from the citizens and update the citizens on their options and plans.
They will hold a public hearing on this matter on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at the Dr. George S. Woods Community Center, 200 E. Hondo Avenue in Devine, and precede the regular monthly meeting.
“At a public hearing people are able to talk and the council and I too. We can have conversations,” said David Jordan, City of Devine Administrator.
Continue reading “City of Devine invites you to public hearing on Water & Sewer Rate Increases”
Salary study shows Devine is on target
By Anton Riecher
In other business, a salary survey commissioned by the council found the city of Devine in the comfortable mid-range among what regional government entities pay to retain personnel.
The survey conducted by consultant Robert Culpepper compared salaries paid by the counties of Medina and Atascosa, plus the cities of Castroville, Hondo, Floresville, Pearsall, Lytle, Jourdanton and Poteet.
“Devine is right in the middle of the pack,” Culpepper reported during a Zoom conference with the council. “It’s competitive.”
In general, Devine pays less than the two counties and the cities of Castroville and Hondo. However, Devine is outpacing the communities of…LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!
City authorizes $11.5 million in obligations to secure grants to replace lead water lines
By Anton Riecher
In other action, the Devine City Council voted to adopt ordinances authorizing the issuance of certificates of obligations covering the city’s application for $11.5 million in low interest loans through the Texas Water Development Board for federally mandated replacement of lead water service lines.
“Tonight’s action is selling those certificates of obligation and locking in the interest rates and proceeding closer to the bond closing next month for these loans and securing the grants,” said Andrew Friedman of SAMCO Capital, financial adviser to the city.
Also, the council named City Administrator David Jordan to represent the city as a director on the Medina County Regional Water Alliance. The alliance is seeking to create a 50,000 acre-foot freshwater storage and recovery project in the brackish Trinity aquifer using water saved over time from the Edwards aquifer.
Incoming District 5 alderman Hal Lance Jr., who replaces Randall in May, will serve as alternate on the alliance board of directors.
ESD#2 demands separate bank accounts and truck maintenance records of Devine VFD after criminal allegations
By Anton Riecher
Citing recent legal controversies involving Devine Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Medina County Emergency Services District No. 2 board president Todd Summers announced at the board’s March 18 meeting its intention to renegotiate the contract with DVF&R to strengthen financial accounting and equipment maintenance requirements.
The board plans to confer with its attorney to determine “if there is a means through the contract to make sure some of these things don’t happen again,” Summers said.
DVF&R office administrator and suspect Heather Schultz was arrested in December on a charge of tampering with evidence related to more than $76,000 in missing department funds. In late February, a misdemeanor count of official oppression by sexual harassment was filed against Devine Fire Chief Greg Atkinson.
Atkinson resigned on March 4, one day before the ESD2 board voted to authorize a forensic audit of the DVF&R finances for the past three years. The action was recommended by Medina County Sheriff Randy Brown and other county officials.
Summers’ announcement came after a 40-minute executive session behind closed doors with their attorney. Uppermost on the board’s list of concerns is closer monitoring of maintenance records on ESD2-owned equipment in use by DVF&R, most important of which is the fire trucks.
“I can remember when Greg got here he complained all the time that the previous chief never did any maintenance on the vehicles,” Summers said. “I can remember him here telling us that. And he was telling us how great a job he was doing.”
However, at the ESD board’s March 5 special meeting it was reported that no maintenance has been done on the trucks since Atkinson has been here, Summer said.
“We would love to see the maintenance records on the equipment for the last three years if you have that,” he said, directing his request to DVF&R officials on hand. “That will help us see what’s out there.”
The bottom line of any future contract negotiation is that the equipment belongs to ESD2, Summers said.
“You guys are using it so, going forward, we are certainly going to be pushing harder…”LOGIN TO CONTINUE READING at www.devinewsmembers.com. You will get INSTANT online access to our full E-edition, and begin getting the newspaper delivered to your home next week for $36 a year in Medina County. Support important local city, county, and school news like this!