Saturday's Internet Edition, 12:23 PM, July 31, 2010.
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| Representative Gallego honored.... Representative Pete P. Gallego is awarded the Texas Access to Justice Legislative Hero Award for his contributions to improving access to justice in Texas. From left, David Hall, executive director of Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Dick Tate, board chair for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, Rep. Pete P. Gallego, and Former Supreme Court Justice Deborah Hankinson and vice chair for the Texas Access to Justice Foundation. |
- Darlene Elder, president of Aero Alternative Energy Industries, appeared before city council members Tuesday evening to provide more hype for her planned renewable energy project in the county.
Elder told council members that she is encountering some problems raising the money for the project, but she has some investor groups that have shown some interest. Among them is a manufacturer of the wind turbines.
Elder’s project calls for the purchase, installation and start-up for at least 25 wind turbines on property located within Culberson County.
Elder additionally noted that, “In order to take advantage of tax breaks, I need to order the turbines by the end of the year.”
Elder further noted that, “since there is no transmission line to connect to the western electrical grid, she is working with a company to provide that connection.”
She also noted that, “She has an algae group interested in coming here to further the bio part of her electrical project, which will add jobs and tax base to the county and local economy.”
However, as in times before, Elder offered nothing in the way of documentation to substantiate what she was saying or anything about her planned project. All she offered was hype.
At the suggestion of Mayor Lucas, council members agreed that moving the CCVB staffer, Brenda Hinojos, and the Texas Mountain Trail executive director Beth Nobles from offices in the CCVB to offices in City Hall would have positive benefits for the city.
In fact, City Administrator Fran Malafronte told council that the move would save the city in the neighborhood of some $25,000 per year. That is in utility and maintenance costs alone.
Additionally, the move will provide for better safety as the staffers will not have to guess who is coming into the facility.
After some discussion, council agreed to move them to city hall. Brenda Hinojos will occupy the former mayor’s office and Beth Nobles will have an office in the west end of city hall.
With regard to other agenda items which council deliberated upon, the following actions were taken:
* Heard Lyndon McDonald’s recap of the Jubilee 2010 and his thanks to council for their support. Council pledged to work with McDoanld as he begins work on the 2015 Jubilee event in the very near future.
* Council members heard Van Horn Rotary Club president John Clark tell them of a grant the club has received to upgrade electrical service at Okey Lucas Park. Council approved having the work done and also approved adding to the drip watering system to keep Christmas trees, planted by the Club, watered in the future.
* Council approved the Van Horn Youth Associations request to hold an end of the year swimming party at the city pool and waived the fees for the event.
* Council also approved the purchase of an electronic billboard located at the Hampton Inn. The billboard will be purchased for $500 and the city will lease the land it is on at $1,000 per year.
* Council members heard Raul Rodriguez update them on the August 21st and 22nd golf tournament to be held at Mountain View Golf Course. Rodriguez expects some 60 teams to play in the two-day event.
* At the request of Director of Municipal Services Israel Borrego, council approved having gas field manager Dion Corrales attend a course to get him certified as a cathodic protection tester. This had been recommended by the Texas Railroad Commission inspector during his recent visit here. Corrales will attend a course in Las Vegas as soon as possible.
* Council approved contract renewal with Allied Compliance to continue providing drug screening and testing services for the town.
* Council also approved getting an estimate to refurbish the sign at Okey Lucas Park.
* Council heard Mayor Lucas urge them to adopt an outdoor lighting ordinance similar to run Alpine has to curb light being emitted into the night sky. Bill Wren of McDonald Observatory has requested that the city adopt such an ordinance. Council will consider the action.
* Council heard an update of various grant projects which are ongoing in the city before going behind-closed-doors for an executive session to address legal matters.
legislative Hero Award goes to Representative Pete Gallego
The Texas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation honored the first recipient of the Texas Access to Justice Legislative Hero Award, Texas House Representative Pete P. Gallego, for his contributions to improving access to justice in Texas during a special presentation at the Texas RioGrande Legal Aid office in Alpine, Texas, on Sat., July 17.
As a leader in the House of Representatives on access to justice issues, including last session’s general appropriation of more than $20 million for civil legal services, Gallego has been an advocate for underserved areas throughout the state including those with vulnerable populations and remote locations. Gallego’s efforts helped ensure that basic legal services are available in rural and remote areas of the state, including Alpine, where people would otherwise have to travel great distances to access those services.
“Pete Gallego is a hero to the cause of access to justice. He understands the importance of making sure that low-income Texans in rural areas and every part of the state can get legal services when needed,” Justice Nathan L. Hecht, the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation Supreme Court of Texas liaison, said. “His voice in the Legislature is clear and strong, and we are grateful for his help.”
“Representative Gallego has been a great supporter in expanding civil access to justice throughout the state, and it’s our pleasure to name him the first recipient of the Texas Access to Justice Legislative Hero Award,” Richard L. Tate, chair of the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, said. “Because of Representative Gallego’s hard work and dedication, hundreds of low-income West Texans do not have to face difficult situations without legal representation.”
With more than 5.3 million Texans qualifying for legal aid, the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation launched the Legislative Hero Award program in 2010 to recognize legislators who, through their efforts, have significantly advanced access to justice in Texas by assisting with the appropriation of funds and/or other substantive activities related to the provision of legal aid in the state.
“It’s an honor to receive the Legislative Hero Award by the Texas Access to Justice Commission and Foundation,” Gallego said. “There is still a great need for civil services, but we have a long way to go and much work to be done. I look forward to continuing the battle to provide all Texans with equal access to justice.”
Gallego, the first Hispanic to represent District 74, has served on the Texas Access to Justice Foundation board of directors since 1996. Gallego was elected in 1990 to represent the largest House district and the largest Texas U.S.-Mexico border district covering nearly 39,000 square miles. In the Legislature, he is an expert in appropriations, law enforcement, criminal justice, campaign finance and victims’ rights. Gallego is chair of the Committee of Criminal Jurisprudence and member of the Committees on General Investigating and State Affairs.