hidalgo county news Spring 2008 “Serving the People, Building Partnerships, Achieving Prosperity” www.co.hidalgo.tx.us Area firefighters ban together to extinguish 50K-acre fire, save lives and property (Left) An aerial photo taken shows one of the fire breaks firefighters and public works crews cut to stop the Burns Ranch Fire from advancing. (Right) A Texas Forest Service helicopter dumps water onto the burning ranchland. (Photo by Alex Jones/The Monitor) More Photos and Story on Page 8. he fire season of 2008 will be one to remember as local firefighters blaze and all the subsequentWhat’s hot spots Insideand small fires that spawned from Tresponded to more than 30 wildfires from Jan. 1 to present day, it. Power lines flapping in the wind threw the first spark and high wind representing more than 98,000 acres burned. But one fire will stand out conditions fanned the fire southeastwardly☑ Precinct 2 intobreaks a ranching ground quadrant on of from the rest. Consuming about 50,000 acres, the Burns Ranch Fire began northern Hidalgo County (west of U.S. 281 and north of Farm-to Market on Tuesday, March 18. It took an entire week to extinguish the main Road 1017. A mandatory evacuationSouth wasAlamo ordered park in that and area multipur by Hidalgo- pose center What’s Inside Court adopts ethics☑ Judge Maxine policy Longoria ap- he Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court has adopted the first ever ethics policy. pointed to juvenile court Best Backyard 3 T “This ethics policy will guide county leaders and employees in performing their day to day duties. We are committed to providing excellent public service, and to do this to our high- est ability, we put down in writing our belief system,☑ Constableor the way we Larry feel employees Gallardo should hon act- Juvenile Justice 4 and how service should be administered,” said Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas III. The Ethics Policy contains general principles, ethicalored principles, and a listing of civil and crimi- nal statutes relating to public servants. Official for a Day 6 The Ethics Policy is one of many policies the Hidalgo County Commissioners’ Court has been proactive in preparing and adopting during the past☑ 16 Adventures months. in Blogging ethics, continued on Page 2 Ethics, From Page 1 Other policies have included the revised Zero Tolerance Drug Policy (ad- opted January 29, 2007), the Nepotism Policy (adopted Feb. 26, 2008), and From the the Fuel Credit Card Policy (adopted Feb. 26, 2008). In the works are a travel policy and a food policy. Judge’s Desk “Now that the ethics policy is in place, it every county employee’s, depart- ment head’s and elected offi cial’s responsibility to adhere to it and promote oft en tell people I talk to that we do not have to worry if a hurri- it,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner Joe Flores. I cane strikes the Valley, but rather when a hurricane will strike “The Ethics Policy sets general rules and guidelines for staff to follow so the Valley. I’m not trying to be apocalyptic, only realistic. This there are no questions as to what is right and wrong. By adoption of these very real threat is in my mind when asked about our levees. With policies, Hidalgo County can try to prevent questionable activities, such as the 2008 hurricane season set to start in one month, I am glad we family relationships between supervisors and employees, from occurring in fi nally have jumped the highest hurdles. the future.” Let’s recap: Earlier this year, we received word from FEMA that it would delay the release of fl ood maps showing the Another way in which the county has been proactive in assuring quality southern half of Hidalgo County in a fl oodplain. This gives control is that Judge Salinas has requested that the Local Government Assis- us enough time bring the levee up to standard so people and tance Division of State Comptroller Susan Comb’s offi ce to come to Hidalgo businesses will not have to pay annual insurance premiums of County to help various county departments perform “Control Self Assess- more than $150 million. ments.” The Comptroller’s CSA program will help department’s identify We fi nally have our individual work authorization from the risks such as major disasters, sudden loss of key personnel and lost or sto- U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission to be- gin work on a 12-mile section of levee from Peñitas to the len computer data and develop a plan to take protective measures to save Banker Weir, which is just upstream of Anzalduas Dam. resources. Judge Salinas has requested that key departments, including his The board of Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 (the own offi ce, take part in this assessment. The assessment will take place this court) awarded a contract to the lowest bidder, Ballenger summer and are scheduled for July. Construction Co., in the amount of $6.3 million to rehabilt- “Hidalgo County’s value system centers around being responsive to resi- ate the section from the Banker Weir to Inspiration Road. dents, honest, fair and respectful, and always doing what is in the public’s Additionally, the district is advertising for another section best interest,” Judge Salinas said. “The ethics policy and these other policies of levee from Anzalduas Dam to 23rd Street. Our goal is to have 18 miles of U.S. IBWC-owned levee fi xed by the end and initiatives reaffi rm our mission to serve the people, build partnerships of this year. and achieve prosperity for Hidalgo County.” • Lastly, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security ap- proved a cooperative agreement for up to $88 million of federal funds to be used toward levee improvements in Hidalgo County. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff ap- proved the alternative levee plan, meaning that most of Meet the Commissioners’ Court Hidalgo County (perhaps with the exception of Los Eba- nos) will be without a border fence. Instead of a border fence, the feds will fi x portions of the river levee. This plan will not infringe on the rights of private property owners and will be less environmentally invasive than the fence. (As far as Los Ebanos goes, the county is a member of the Texas Border Coalition and has voted to join a fed- eral lawsuit with property owners to restrict government access to private property. The county opposes fencing.) The best part of the whole deal is that local taxpayers will not have to foot the bill for a federal responsibility. Mon- ies from a 2006 $100 million bond election that voters ap- proved (monies that we are also trying to recapture) will Commissioner Sylvia Handy Commissioner Hector Palacios go a lot farther on other segments of the river levee now 1902 Joe Stephens 301 E. State that 22 miles of levee are being taken care of by DHS. The Weslaco, TX 78596 Pharr, TX 78577 economic impact of all this construction in the area will be a tremendous boon to our local economy, too, as local jobs and 968-8733 787-1891 materials are utilized. The multiplying eff ect of $7 created for every $1 spent means Hidalgo County will be gett ing at least a Judge J.D. Salinas III $615 million boost over the course of six months. We are confi dent that by fi xing our levees, the Valley will con- 100 E. Cano, 2nd Floor tinue to see economic growth, which in turn leads to bett er pay- Edinburg, TX 78539 ing jobs, health care, education and a higher quality of life for all. 318-2600 As always, we are here to help and listen to our constituents con- cerns. Please don’t hesitate to contact us. Commissioner Joe Flores Commissioner Oscar Garza Jr. Best, 724 Breyfogle J.D. Salinas III, Hidalgo County Judge 1102 N. Doolitt le Mission, TX 78572 Edinburg, TX 78539 585-4509 383-3112 Spring ‘08 2 Precinct 2 Park distinguished County awards as “Texas Best Backyard” four health clin- ics grants of more than $750K he Hidalgo County Commissioners’ TCourt granted four local health clinics more than $750,000 to provide care to indi- gent residents of Hidalgo County. The funds--formerly allocated to the Rio Grande Valley Health Services District be- fore its dissolution in August 2007--will provide services including primary care, mammography, nutritional counseling and specialty care. “These grants were awarded in the spirit of the health services district. Hidalgo County is committ ed to providing quality health care to all people, regardless of income level,” said Precinct 1 Commissioner Sylvia orth San Juan Park has been recognized by the National Wildlife Federation and Handy. “We have our work cut out for us Nthe Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as one of Texas’ Best Backyard Wildlife to fi nd a medical home for those who do not Habitats. have the means to pay. But in the past year, Precinct 2 Commissioner Hector “Tito” Palacios opened North San Juan Park, located at the modernization of the health and human 509 Earling (Nolana) Road, in March 2007 as a place for families of nearly 80 surrounding services department’s indigent program, the colonias to enjoy nature, sports and the outdoors. The park consists of a gravel walking establishment of a federal program to bring trail, pond, baseball diamond, basketball court, barbecue pits, kid-friendly playscapes, a more Medicare dollars to the area and the sun-screened outdoor classroom with vegetable garden, and over 90 percent native plants. approval of these grants have improved ac- Not only has the picturesque park att racted numerous families, but also numerous spe- cessbility of health care for the people.” cies of wildlife.