The City Council and Eagle Pass Golf Course Association Joint Special Meeting began with a report by Finance Director San Juana Garza who informed the council that a $45,000.00 debt was owed to the city for a $49,000.00 loan made several years ago during Daniel Valenzuela's tenure as city manager to fix the greens of the facility.  Mrs. Garza also went over the contract the city has with the golf course which pays the city $3,500.00 per month for the maintenance of the facility.  $42,000.00 per year.

Both Rudy Bowles and Robert Gonzalez addressed this issue saying that at the time, according to them, the golf association saved the city $40-50 thousand of potable water by setting up the existing irrigation system. 

Bruce Thompson also addressed the council as a long-time golfer who would like to see certain improvements done to the facility especially in reference to the dilapidating restroom facilities for both men and women saying that students from both high schools have to use them, stressing that a golf course has to be in  shape in order for it to be inviting to tournament organizers.  These tournaments generate revenue from organizations who are not coming anymore.

One of the most poignant revelations Thompson had was the fact that the golf course is being used by these youngsters who have to go through the club house which he feels is inappropriate for them and hopes that the adjacent building to the club house could be refurbished for them with new restrooms, locker rooms, their own concessions and even a conference room for them to watch TV, do their homework while waiting for parents or just to play video games to get out of the hot South Texas sun.

Then it was Joe Ruiz' turn at the mic where he laid out the problems that exist on the course itself including the near extinction of six of the nine greens.  The greens are drying up and are being overwhelmed by other types of grasses due to a lack of watering.  The fairways had been very high as well as on the driving range where many balls were lost.  He also mentioned that the driving range is old and there is no place to hit from.  Tee boxes are not level and need to be cut.  Ruiz also mentioned the water reservoirs and irrigation which hasn't been finished.

He mentioned that the existing contract calls for the city being responsible to keep the golf course looking good.

Then it was Hector Chavez' turn to let the nearly fifty golfers in attendance gathered know how the city and his crews will approach the situation as they work this year to address many if not all of these concerns beginning with the addition of two projects that will assist both the city and the golf association in accomplishing all these goals, the advent of a miniature golf course and a two-tier driving range.

"I think that with $249,000.00 we can get the course in the condition that it needs to be at.  This a long-term project.  We're not going to sit here and tell you it's all going to get done this year," said Chavez, "Then to get it in even better condition, we're looking at about $1.2 million.  For us to look at that, we should also explore ways we can generate revenues to help get this done."

This is when he showed the schematics of the proposed $200,000.00 miniature golf course, the irrigation system which lies underneath the entire facility including every green fairway and tee box as well as letting the golfers know of the proposed driving range, a presentation that was so well-received by those gathered that they applauded him at the conclusion of his presentation.

"In conclusion, we are very grateful for you authorizing this audience with city council to listen to our concerns and suggestions," said Ruiz, "The Eagle Pass Golf Association is bringing these issues to council not as a selfish gesture but rather as a means to improve our city and all that live in and visit it.  We as a non-profit, volunteer organization participate as much as we are able to and will continue our efforts.

"Surely, with an improved and functional golf course, through your efforts and ours, opportunities will arise for new members to join, visitors to return, tournaments that could be sponsored, UIL tournaments that we could host, more students would enroll and we could have a golf course we all could be proud of."