By CATHERINE DONNELLY
Special to the PRESS
At the regular Port Isabel City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 12, under New Business, the City Council approved affixing a plaque on City Hall to honor former Mayor Leo “Speck” Sanders. According to a previous article in the Press, Sanders passed away in 2018 at the age of 90.
Family, friends, and the local community knew him as “Speck.” Sanders served two terms as mayor of Port Isabel from 1966-70 and 1972-76, as well as as interim city manager from 1989-1992, for 12 years of service. He was well respected for his honesty, integrity, and transparency in city government.
Sanders also served on several committees and belonged to civic organizations. He was known as a source of Port Isabel’s history and knowledgeable about the inner workings of local government. Despite his own political stance, Sanders was known to be open to another person’s point of view, according to many. Sanders’ family witnessed their loved one’s plaque being approved by the council.
City Manager Jared Hockema then discussed needed updates to the City Cemetery’s regulations, including providing required definitions, providing a repealer (a legislative act that cancels or does away with an earlier act), establishing an effective date, and fixing a penalty. He urged the approval of the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 662-A to amend the original Ordinance No. 662, which passed.
The updates also allow for up to three cremated remains to be buried on each regular-sized plot to utilize the cemetery’s dwindling spaces in the most efficient way possible. In this vein, under New Business, the City Council also approved amending the designation of cemetery spaces to convert three child spaces to one adult space to resolve an imminent space problem.
After a discussion, the council also passed a motion to adopt a suggested designation of an additional moniker for the City of Port Isabel as the “Pearl City.” The motion passed based on a poem about Port Isabel by local author Rudy Garcia.
The council also decided to sponsor the Texas Municipal League-Region 12 thirteenth Annual Training Workshop on May 16-17 and maintain last year’s $3,000 Platinum sponsorship level. The city passed the motion to approve the city’s bills.
Chief Robert Lopez discussed that the Brownsville Police Department (BPD) decided to donate three used police cars from the City of Brownsville. They reportedly took the three best cars and cleaned them up, making necessary repairs. They will come fully equipped with lights, sirens, and the like and will be added to the fleet. The motion to accept the donations passed unanimously, with gratitude to BPD.
The council also approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Port Isabel Police Department and the US Marshal’s Office to use the shooting range.
Travel for Marketing Director Valerie Bates and Museum Coordinator Coty Camacho to attend the Texas Historical Commission Sites Manager’s Meeting on March 31-April 5, and for City Manager Jared Hockema to travel to Austin, Texas on April 1-3 to attend the Texas Historical Commission Meeting was also approved.
City Manager Jared Hockema asked the council to approve Resolution N0. 03-13-2024-01: a Resolution of the city of Port Isabel suspending April 4, 2024, the effective date of AEP Texas INC.’S requested a rate change to allow the city time to study the request and to establish reasonable rates, approving cooperation with the cities served by AEP Texas and authorizing intervention in AEP Texas INC.’S requested rate change proceedings before the commission; hiring Lloyd Gosselink attorneys and consulting services to negotiate with the company and direct any necessary litigation and appeals; requiring reimbursement of cities’ rate case expenses; finding that the meeting at which this resolution is open to the public as required by law; and requiring notice of this resolution to the company and legal counsel. The city passed this request.
The council then went into closed session to deliberate the lease of real property described as “0.9640 of an acre tract of land BLK 61 PORT ISABEL ORIGINAL TOWNSITE (VOL 7 PG 23 MRCC) TRACT G BETW TARNAVA & GARCIA ST MO PAC TRACKAGE OPP BLK 6, Deed and Map Records, Cameron County, Texas, under Texas Government Code, Section 551.072.”
They also deliberated on the employment of the Chief of Police under Texas Government Code, Section 551.074(1), and passed it after returning to open session. Then the meeting was adjourned.
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