Tax payers vote against $8.5 million County loan
A group known as the “Concerned Maverick County Tax Payers,” headed by Ethelvina Felan, in opposition of the county’s tax rate and proposal to seek at least $8.5 million for projects gave the Maverick County Commissioners Court an earful this year. The group was persistent in their efforts for elections on both tax rollback and the loan, eventually leading to an election on the $8.5 million being sought by the county, which the public voted against.
The debacle between Maverick County and Ethelvina Felan later found its way into the courtroom.
Felan’s lawsuit stemmed from a rollback election petition filed on December 22,2016 which the county deemed invalid on January 9, 2017. Felan alleged that the County went beyond their legal power of authority, and therefore sought a declaratory judgment compelling the county officials to perform their duties as described by law.
Senator Carlos Uresti indicted under bribery and fraud charges
A federal grand jury returned two separate indictments against District 19 Texas State Senator Carlos I. Uresti. The Four Winds Indictment charged Uresti, age 53, Four Winds Chief Executive Officer Stanley P. Bates, age 45, of San Antonio, and Four Winds consultant Gary L. Cain, age 60, of San Antonio, with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment also charges Uresti with five substantive counts of wire fraud, two counts of securities fraud; one count of engaging in monetary transactions with property derived from specified unlawful activity; and, one count of being an unregistered securities broker. The indictment alleges that the defendants developed an investment Ponzi scheme to market hydraulic fracturing (fracking) sand for oil production. It further alleges that the defendants made false statements and representations to solicit investors in Four Winds. The defendants allegedly used funds from more recent investors to pay earlier investors and for personal expenses.
The Reeves County Indictment charges Uresti and 44–year-old Vernon C. Farthing, III, of Lubbock, TX, with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment alleges that from January 2006 to September 2016, the defendants conspired with others to pay and accept bribes in order to secure a Reeves County Correctional Center medical services contract for Farthing’s company. The indictment specifically alleges that Farthing paid Uresti $10,000 a month as a marketing consultant and that half of that sum was then given to a Reeves County official for his support and vote to award the contract to Farthing’s company.
Former Eagle Pass City Manager Hector Chavez sentenced to 2.5 years in prison
On Monday, August 21, 2017, Chavez was sentenced to serve 42 months behind bars with 16 months of credit for time already served, and three years of supervised release.
Chavez plead guilty in a federal court on March 30, 2017 before U.S. District Judge Alia Moses. Chavez was facing up to five years in federal prison for making a false statement to an FBI agent in an investigation, and up to $250,000 in fines and three years community supervision. Chavez’s charges and arrest stems from an investigation of public corruption in Maverick County by the FBI which has led to the indictment and arrest of 28 individuals, all of whom plead guilty.
Maverick County finalizes closure of GEO Detention Center after Settling a lawsuit with UMB Bank
Maverick County came to an agreement detaching the entity and county taxpayer from the defunct Maverick County Detention Center (Geo )and any claims, other actions, or problems having to do with it for good.
The Maverick County Commissioners Court announced a release agreement with UMB Bank, N.A. as Trustee of the MCDC at its regular meeting held on Friday, February 17.
This settlement agreement was made after over 17 months, as county taxpayers were shadowed by a million dollar lawsuit filed by UMB in federal court against the county taxpayer on August 3, 2015 for breach of contract Maverick County fought that they were owed money for their troubles in trying to save the failing prison facility. They were able to settle the issue and received $500,000 back from the company. The County also detached itself of approximately $40,000,000 in debt from the prison facility as structured in the original contract. This brought the county debt down to $24,000,000.
The Eagle Pass Independent School District suffered the vandalization of two schools
On Monday March 21, 2017 EPISD School District Chief of Police Jose Ramos Jr. issued a statement acknowledging the issue and forewarning the perpetrators of the consequences and of the on-going investigation to finding those responsible for causing damage to the Eagle Pass High School and Eagle Pass Junior High School campuses.
Eagle Pass ISD Police Department detained 17 juveniles and one adult in Eagle Pass High School and Junior High Vandalism Case.The EPISD Police Department’s continuing investigation of the vandalism committed against both schools resulted in the detention of 18 individuals during Spring Break 2017
Maverick County files a civil legal malpractice settlements claim lawsuit against County Attorney Ricardo Ramos individually and D/B/A The Ramos Law Firm on March 30.
The County alleges that Ramos failed to timely answer a federal lawsuit in the United States District Court in Del Rio which resulted in a default judgment entered against Maverick County in the amount of $120,000.May- Attorney Ricardo Ramos filed a counterclaim against the county and they are set to go to court over this issue on May 1.
Thompson Road Water Canal incident
On February 15, residents of Maverick County complained of a black substance being found in the waters of the Thompson Road Water Canal. TCEQ was contacted and began an investigation. The Texas Commission of Environmental Quality submitted a detailed assessment/investigation into a complaint that the Dos Republicas Coal mine in Maverick County could have been responsible for possible contamination of a Maverick County Water District Canal near Thompson Road in the month of March.TCEQ returned an inconclusive determination as to a direct cause of the problem under its final summary report. TCEQ acknowledges that the area in question was impacted with a spill, discharge or emission of a black material substance but that a mechanism could not be determined as to how lateral 20 was impacted and nor the source of the impact.
The investigation also included DRCP mine operation evaluations, material stockpiles and permitted outfalls. Investigators also collected water and tape lift samples.
The City of Eagle Pass forms first ever Business Economic Development Committee
The Eagle Pass Business & Economic Development was launched at a kick off luncheon on May 25. with over 80 businesses and community leaders representing a cross-section of industry form the advisory committee made up of leaders in academia, auto-dealers, business, construction, development, financial services, gaming, government, health-care, legal, nonprofits, and many more.
Maverick County law enforcement, Commissioners Court join SB4 immigration lawsuit
Maverick County announced on May 23 that they would be joining a law suit against SB4, signed into effect by Governor Abbott on May 7, requiring local governments and their employees, as well as some elected officials to engage in a cluster of immigration enforcement policies. Maverick County, by unanimous vote, is now one of the Plaintiffs along with the City of El Cenizo, Tx Mayor Raul L. Reyes of El Cenizo, Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber, Maverick County Constable PCT. 3-AB Mario A. Hernandez and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) among others. The legal battle over this issue continues.
2,263 Voters approved the Eagle Pass Independent School Districts Proposed Tax increase through a Tax Ratification Election
On May 27 , 2017 Maverick County Voters approved a EPISD Tax Ratification Election (TRE) which increased the School districts taxes by $ 2.5 cents per every $100 valuation The School Tax rate went from $1.15543 to $1.18043 per every $100 valuation. The School District was supposed to receive almost 5.7 million dollars in extra funding from a State supplement under this new tax increase.
Uber starts service in Maverick County
Uber, a smartphone app that connects riders and drivers at the touch of a button, has officially launched in Eagle Pass. Beginning at 1pm on July 21, users could begin requesting rides.
Eagle Pass’ very first Uber driver is Cindy Chacon.
EPISD receives an explosives threat
On Saturday, September 23, 2017, the Eagle Pass Independent School District Police Department was called in over what appeared to be a grenade left outside the front gate of the EPISD District Service Center. A cardboard note was also left behind which stated “Mihares and Superintendent please pull.” The Laredo Bomb squad removed the supposed explosive, and it was then determined to be full of Sodium Chloride (Salt).
No Texting while Driving Law implemented in the State of Texas
Texas joins 47 other states with similar legislation that prevent texting while driving. Penalties for first time violates will range from $25 to $90 and repeat offenders may see a maximum $200 fine. These fines do not include court costs, so the actual amounts are higher.
Elderly Couple involved in murder suicide
The Maverick County Sheriff Department and Eagle Pass Fire Department responded to an emergency call reported at approximately 12:30 pm on Friday, October 6 ,2017in the Thompson Road area.
Maverick County Sheriff Tom Schmerber stated that the bodies of two elderly people, later identified as Ernesto and Maria Ibarra, were found deceased. Texas Rangers later took over the case and determined it was a murder suicide.
Maverick County, City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County Hospital District join Opioid Litigation against 25 Pharmaceutical companies
Maverick County has become the first county in the State of Texas to file a lawsuit against 24 pharmaceutical companies in state district court. The lawsuit filed is against companies such as Purdue Pharma LP. Johnson & Johnson, Purdue Pharma Inc. , The Purdue Frederick Company Inc.,TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Cephalon Inc, Jansen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. Actavis Inc.,Watson Laboratories Inc., Insys Therapeutics Actavis LLC, Endo Health Solutions, Mckesson Corporation, Walsh distribution LLC, Cardinal Health Inc., Amerisourcebergen Corporation, Russell Portenoy, Perry Fine, Scott Fishman, and Lynn Webster. The lawsuit was filed on Friday, October 28 on behalf of County Judge David R. Saucedo and Maverick County. The City, and MCHD joined the fight in November.
Iconic Restaurant Charcoal Grill closes its doors
Charcoal Grill, most recently located on Bibb Street, closed its doors after approximately one year of operation. The restaurant has a long history in Eagle Pass, and operated in Mall de Las Aguilas for almost 30 years before moving to its new location in November 2016. The closing of the restaurant left approximately 50 employees without work, as well as a significant end to a business with much history in Eagle Pass.
City of Eagle Pass continues moving forward with new projects
Eagle Pass Water Works System will continue with a $54 million Water Expansion project. The Eagle Pass Water Works is in the process of expanding their water treatment plant, water pipe exchange in the downtown, area water tank maintenance, adding water tanks and many other improvement projects under the Eagle Pass Water Works System 2017 Water & Wastewater Capital Improvements Plan and Land Use Assumptions.The city has also finished renovating the Eagle Pass Public Library on December 20 after a year and 8 months of the project being under construction beginning in April 2015. The City is also seeking to begin the Bridge System Express Lanes Expansions, the Public Safety Headquarters, new skate park and a new gymnasium during 2018.
The City of Eagle Pass and US CBP held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the lane expansion project on International Bridge II on November 13
The expansion of the existing commercial lanes began in December 2015.
293rd District Judge Cynthia Muñiz and Justice of the Peace Pct 4 Tere Melendrez announce their retirement
Honorable 293rd District Judge Cynthia Muniz and Maverick County Justice of the Peace Pct. 4 Tere Melendrez will be retiring in 2018. Both women have decided not to run for re-election in the March Democratic Primary after serving for more than four decades combined.
Eagle Pass woke up to a blanket of snow on December 7, 2017 much to the enjoyment of children and adults throughout the city. Eagle Pass had not seen substantial snow fall since 1985.