by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

Top picture by Robinson

November 1st, 2025

 

The city of Uvalde is looking for a buyer for a house located at 415 Apolonio on the city’s west side. The house is currently boarded up and tax due notices from 2024 are stapled to the frame of the front door.

Uvalde County Appraisal District Attorney Carlos Arce with Purdue Brandon said, “This property went through the whole collection process, and through the whole litigation process, went up for sale on the courthouse steps. (It) didn’t sell. (It) didn’t find the right buyer.”

The city currently owns the house and has previously tried to sell the house at two previous courthouse auctions.

On Tuesday, October 28 Uvalde City Council discussed the next steps it will take to get the house sold and back on the municipal tax rolls.

Susan Anderson the City of Uvalde Director of Planning said, “It has gone out for bids twice already, but has not sold. The opening bids are based on the value of the property. Previously, council voted to lower the opening bid amount to slightly above what was owed on the property. It still didn’t sell.

  Last night the attorneys were again asking about the amount for the opening bid. Council voted to lower it to the amount that someone had previously offered. This amount will not be enough to cover the tax liens on the property.

  In the meantime, the City is paying to keep the property boarded up and mowed. Since we are currently getting no tax money and we are spending money to maintain, city staff is of the opinion that a decrease in the opening bid might get the property sold and back on the tax rolls. It would also end our obligation to maintain the property and provide an opportunity for much needed housing.”

  “You can see how the values have dropped and some of the tax payment history on UCAD’s website,” Anderson said.

  “It’s around $37,000 on its value on CAD right now,” Arce said.

After a discussion about the house, the city council voted to hold another public resale of property with a starting bid of $16,000.

The date of the auction was not mentioned.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

08-21-25

Last week, City of Uvalde Finance Director Sasha Ricks gave a presentation on the proposed Fiscal Year 2025-2026 budget to the Uvalde City Council at the August 12th meeting.

During the budget presentation, it was revealed that the City of Uvalde Recycling Center is operating in the red. Income for the Center is budgeted at $10.000 while expenses are listed at $163,044.

According to discussion among city council members, the center is no longer accepting plastic items for recycling or glass.

The city’s recycling center is budgeted under the City’s Sanitation budget.

“The recycling center: it’s not a money-making deal. The primary value to us is removing stuff from the waste stream so it doesn’t end up on in the landfill. It is still a valuable service to provide,” City Manager Vince DiPiazza said.

The City’s recycling center accepts aluminum, cardboard, tin cans and newspaper.

“We do sell recyclables when we can, but a lot of stuff eventually ends up in the landfill,’ he said.

City Manager Vice DiPiazza said the majority of the cost of the recycling center is for personnel citing there are two people that work at the center.

It (recycling) hasn’t lived up to the promise we learned when we were kids.” Piazza said.

“Recycling is expensive,” Councilman Ernest “Chip” King said.

Piazza said that brush collection is also a service the city provides that costs more than the revenue it receives.

The city has budgeted $90,000 revenue for brush collection with expense listed at $311,847.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top photo is a screenshot from the City of Uvalde video feed

  08-12-25

  During the citizens comments portion of the Tuesday, August 12th Uvalde City Council Meeting, R. Patrick Williams leveled harsh criticism against Uvalde Mayor Hector Luevano for calling into question the legitimacy of the Emergency Services District 3 Petition brought before the Uvalde County Commissioners Court Meeting on August 11th.

  “Yesterday,  Mayor Hector Luevano appeared before the Uvalde County Commissioners making a serious allegation against the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department. He accused the department for submitting a flawed petition that, in his view, did not meet the requirements necessary to place the ESD before the voters, ” Williams said.

R. Patrick Williams is a longtime member of the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department.

  Williams claimed that Luevano stated he was speaking not as Mayor but as a citizen, pointing out Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell introduced Luevano as mayor.

“Furthermore, it is noteworthy that the County Commissioners remain responsible for ensuring the petition meets all necessary standards.” Williams said.

A video of Patrick Williams speaking before Tuesday night’s city council meeting can be found here with Williams comments at the 26:37 time mark.

 “You are mayor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.” Williams said speaking directly to Mayor Luevano.

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

07-25-25

Richard Williams, Heath Sutherland and two others meet outside the Civic Center where this week’s City Council Meeting was held.

  City of Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department heads Richard Williams and Gilbert Ayala are the two signatory petitioners obligating themselves to pay the costs for the formation of a new Emergency Services District presented to Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell and to the Uvalde City Council along with signatures of 100 registered voters residing in the County.

  At last week’s Monday, July 14th Uvalde County Commissioners Court and at the Tuesday, July 22nd, Uvalde City Council meetings the next steps for approving the measure were discussed which if approved by both the County and the City, the proposed ESD would go before the voters to decide yes or no on the measure. 

  If approved, the new ESD would add a new property taxing entity which could levy a tax of up to ten cents per $100 property valuation and provide direct funding to pay for fire and emergency services to Uvalde County. 

 At Tuesday’s City Council meeting, Councilman Ernest “Chip” King spoke on the agenda item saying this petition would cover Uvalde County but exclude the City of Uvalde. 

 After the council members heard from the City’s Attorney, it was decided the measure must be approved by the County before the city can act.

  According to King, while the City of Uvalde is not part of the proposed ESD petition, Uvalde’s Volunteer Fire Department will continue to respond and help with emergencies within the County. 

 Proponents for creating the new ESD argue that volunteer fire departments serve Knippa. Sabinal and Reagan Wells need the additional funding for needed equipment and other costs. 

  Those opposing the creation of the ESD argue that the County has money available in the budget it can allocate to pay for the services including monies paid annually to Uvalde Memorial Hospital. Diana Olvedo-Karau has been an outspoken opponent creating a new ESD and has criticized the measure several times during citizens comments at Uvalde County Commissioners Court meetings chiding the Court for its perceived unwillingness to alter the budget.

Kaura states that the taxpayers cannot afford to pay additional property taxes. So far, the Court has not officially responded to Karau’s budget cut recommendations.

 

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

07-23-25

  Ronnie Garza, who serves as a Uvalde County Commissioner, spoke at Tuesday night’s Uvalde City Council meeting expressing a need for additional signage or speed bumps along Grove Street running north and south and Fort Clark Road running east and west. Both streets are long, straight and wide; the type of streets that entice some drivers to exceed the posted 30 mile per hour speed limit. Both are located on the west side of town.

  Council members and City officials discussed the possibility of adding advisory signs like. “Drive Slowly: Children” which can be done without City Council approval.  Signs that carry lawful ordinance significance and adding stop signs would require City Council approval according to a city official speaking to the council.

By Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

Top Picture by Robinson

07-09-25

The Uvalde City Council approved a resolution authorizing a grant application to Texas Parks and Wildlife
for a trail from Uvalde Memorial Hospital to Memorial Park.

According to the resolution’s background information it states the following:

‘The trail is proposed to be on property entirely owned by the hospital until it gets to Memorial Park and links up with the existing park trail on the Leona River. The hospital will provide the matching share for the grant in the form of money and property.”

A citizen, Roy Mata, spoke during the discussion portion of the item asking if the City would be responsible for maintaining the new path which according to UMH Chief Executive Officer Adam Apolinar. half of the one-mile trail would be concrete, and the other half would be gravel. Mata also brought up potential liability and if the city would be responsible for any accidents or injuries on the trail. Mata went on to say the hospital should compensate the city in some way and that the money the City would spend to maintain the path would be better used in paving a portion of a particular street on the north side of town.

 

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

05-28-25

   City Council members voted to accept a termination agreement with the VF Corporation which occupies the old Williamson Dickies manufacturing facility owned by the City of Uvalde. According to Assistant City Manager Joe Cardenas and information from the May 27th City Council meeting packet, it states,” On April 29, 2025, Cole Hackert and Julie Sutton were in town to officially notify their VF Corporation (formerly Williamson – Dickies) employees (approximately 70) of their intention to shut down the Uvalde Plant, as of the end of August 2025.)

According to Assistant City Manager Joe Cardenas, the company said the decision for the move was the economy and that a move to Colorado to be closed to its Manufacturing plant. Cardenas went on to say the VF Corporation was willing to help find another 3rd party vendor company to lease the facility. 

“We need to be the ones to do that. They don’t care. They’re closing. They are going to walk away,” Councilman Ernest “Chip” King said.

  I totally agree with Councilman King. We need to start yesterday,” Mayor Hector R. Luevano said. “We need to start looking,” Mayor Luevano said.

by Michael Robinson |Uvalde Hesperian

05-15-25

   The Uvalde Hesperian spoke with the City of Uvalde’s Director of Planning Susan Anderson about the City’s plans on managing the town’s tourism efforts with Hotel Motel Tax Monies collected by local lodging businesses. \

  According to Anderson, at Tuesday’s Uvalde City Council meeting, the City Council voted to approve a plan where several City officials and managers including Opera House Manager Caitlin Visel, Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma, and several other City staff members will form a committee to manage the marketing and public relations of the town utilizing HOT Tax monies. As part of the new plan, the City will hire an additional tourism marketing person to join the team. 

   Anderson said in the past, the City has managed and directed tourism in-house and then over time contracted the City’s marketing and tourism to non-profit organizations like the Uvalde Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Uvalde Chamber of Commerce.

   She said shortly after Uvalde Chamber of Commerce President John Yeackle gave notice to City Council his intent to not renew the Chamber’s agreement with the City to manage the municipal tourism with the use of HOT Tax monies, City officials began discussing plans to bring the task in-house.  She mentioned Yeackle left a marketing plan for the City, and indicated it is being followed.

  Anderson said the Opera House Manager Caitlin Visel has already been promoting the Opera House events and Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma has been involved with its promotions. Anderson also mentioned the Briscoe Garner Museum as a possible partnering organization she hopes to partner with in promoting the City.

  Susan mentioned there are 3 tourism related conferences the City is already planning on attending and the team is also preparing for the Hunter’s Round-Up this fall and the Texas Travel Alliance event in October.

Main Street Uvalde /Civic Center Offices and Chamber of Commerce to swap office locations

   With a 120-day transition period coming to an end soon, Main Street Uvalde Manager Gloria Resma indicted their planned office move is still on schedule: 

  “We move on Tuesday, May 27. My office will be closed on May 23 and May 26-28, but I will still be able to take phone calls and emails. It just will be the physical office that is closed,” Resma said.

   See related article published in the Uvalde Hesperian:

Uvalde Chamber of Commerce already planning move back to its North Getty Street property – Uvalde Hesperian

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

04-23-25

After convening in a closed-door executive session, the Uvalde City Council reconvened in open session Tuesday, April 22nd voting to approve an undisclosed settlement with the plaintiff group consisting of Robb Elementary School victims’ and families of the May 24th, 2022 tragedy.

The settlement vote was followed by a statement made by Uvalde City Mayor Hector Luevano about the settlement which came just shy of 3 years after the deadly school shooting.

Below, please find a statement from Uvalde Mayor Hector Luevano on the Uvalde City Council approving the final settlement agreement yesterday:

“Nothing can ever make up for the losses and harms these families endured on May 24,2022, but Today’s agreement marks an important step forward in advancing community healing and ensuring our City forever honors the lives we tragically lost and supporting all surviving victims in the 2022 Robb Elementary shooting. In addition to working directly with many families to guide collaborative education and community reconciliation efforts, the City will work with the committee representatives of the families, community and city for a permanent memorial at the Plaza and promote the shared healing of the Robb families and the broader community.

The agreement also affirms the City’s commitment to supporting the Uvalde Police Department’s Guardian Initiative, including enhanced emergency training and evaluation for officers, as well as mental health support, while working to instill trust and confidence in the men and women who take on the critical responsibility of protecting all Uvalde residents. “We look forward to our continued work and collaboration with the Robb families to ensure the Uvalde community can move forward on a path of collective healing and reconciliation.

We will never forget the lives we lost in this senseless act of violence, and the City is committed to honoring their memories by providing the necessary support to the families of the victims, the survivors, and everyone in our community who has been impacted by the Robb Elementary tragedy.”

by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian

04-09-25

Top Picture (Left to Right): Councilmember Con Mims, Mayor Hector Luevano and Councilmember Ernest Santos

After meeting in a closed-door executive session, the Uvalde City Council reconvened into open council where Mayor Hector R. Luevano moved to nominate Gustavo Sorola, a retired Texas Parks and Wildlife Ranger for his pick for the City’s Municipal Court Judge. But when the votes were cast, the mayor’s nomination failed to pass with three votes in favor and the against, effectively thwarting the nomination bid.

The three votes in favor of Sorola were cast by Mayor Hector Luevano and Councilmembers Eloisa Medina and Ernest Santos. The three nay votes were cast by Councilmembers Con Mims, Don “Mac” McLaughlin Jr. and Ernest “Chip” King.

 This nomination defeat follows Luevanos nomination of Kyle McKeon which failed for lack of a second at the February 25th, 2025 Uvalde City Council meeting.

 Several citizens have expressed interest to the City Council for the position of Uvalde Municipal Court Judge including: 

  Rene Nolasco, J. Anson Bills, Justin Wolbert, Mona Southward and Mario Valdez. 

 The appointed interim City of Uvalde Municipal Court Judge Cynthia Casburn will continue to preside until the council approves a nomination for the position.