[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6267756,"mediaKeyId","3063914-317b6d439d257a28775673943136868a","parentId",3063914,"title","Votes at a glance: Rio Grande City approves travel requests, extends local disaster declaration","audioSeconds",1408,"startMs",831000,"endMs",2239000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3063914-317b6d439d257a28775673943136868a&start=831&end=2239","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3063914-317b6d439d257a28775673943136868a/thumbnail_831000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6267756/Rio-Grande-City/Starr-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Rio-Grande-City-approves-travel-requests-extends-local-disaster-declaration","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267756-fe6220e7c6f07a58b49a013696954ce7/orig.mp4?Expires=1775189094&Signature=fqPho6bvffEhZHF8xD8NDFsqhZPaX6hhP3McpoywvH16wnQsex7Ui7QsVeaBGrJRv1gousuW50b9IhTdKwUyrJxfg2ax9ZZLthOdUce9~1hFNG0pbn~~xLc-NuUqbY15Kvt3wuFOVBMLv-76li6-ooCXyE3uyEynFZhEpi3uOebHETgDrDLyH99nZM3BmjLAzwzrC5alAbtXoxd~MmqsB0Ni-JNkqpr1BYgOTd2loLMku00hsTEy7ZjWxA6jtVtQxtX83qum40L2Mt8QL2hhKz1Z8Gi6q4WGXGy1FNM8azU2PgdLrr9Qeki7CM1KlCYJrj-cPRyOc9PXrD8qpAX8VA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Rio Grande City, TX","date","2025-04-16T14:18:35Z","article","The Rio Grande City Commission voted on several routine and time‑sensitive items during a special meeting on April 10.

Key outcomes

• Travel requests approved — The commission approved a package of travel requests from multiple departments including: Main Street coordinator Yandere La Cruz to attend the Historic Preservation Conference in Austin; EDC staff to attend required economic development and TxDOT courses (dates presented in the meeting); police staff (Detective Ramirez and a crime‑victims liaison, Miss Cruz) to attend the 20th Annual Conference on Crimes Against Women in Dallas; and other communications and training conferences (locations and costs presented to the commission). The motion to approve travel requests carried.

• Contracts and expenditures (item 3a) approved — The commission approved expenditures between $5,000 and $50,000 as presented (see separate article for full line‑item details), including an audit overrun payment request, ClearGov budgeting software and an InvoiceCloud/Tyler module. Staff indicated several items will be reimbursed through TDA or EDAP/TWDB processes.

• 30‑day extension of local disaster declaration approved — The commission approved a 30‑day extension of the local disaster declaration for the March severe weather event (referenced in the meeting as the March severe‑weather event), allowing the city to continue recovery and assistance activities under the declaration. The governor had earlier approved an initial seven‑day declaration; the local extension continues the city's emergency authority for 30 days as permitted.

• Executive session and reconvening — The commission recessed to executive session after the above actions. After reconvening at about 2:12 p.m., the meeting record indicates no action was taken on items 6a, 6b or 6c before adjournment.

Motions and formal outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes included unanimous voice votes where documented (motions carried and approved). Where the record did not identify individual movers or roll‑call tallies, the minutes reflect the meeting’s stated outcome (approved or carried).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","RGC Special Commission Meeting April 10, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its April 10 special meeting the Rio Grande City Commission approved multiple staff travel requests, approved contract and expenditure items under $50,000, and extended a local disaster declaration for recent severe weather by 30 days; commissioners later recessed to executive session and reconvened with no action taken.","taxTitle","Rio Grande City, Starr County, Texas","taxId",69600,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267761,"Rio Grande City approves under‑$50,000 expenditures including audit overrun, budget software and water‑project invoices",1030,1095000,2125000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3063914-317b6d439d257a28775673943136868a&start=1095&end=2125","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3063914-317b6d439d257a28775673943136868a/thumbnail_1095000.jpg","/articles/6267761/Rio-Grande-City/Starr-County/Texas/Rio-Grande-City-approves-under50000-expenditures-including-audit-overrun-budget-software-and-waterproject-invoices","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267761-5c57f86a684d9a8f67dc19b369813b37/orig.mp4?Expires=1775189094&Signature=EouEhTWCEv0VLKGFZM6en-RdBv4wng4msDcj8DLkaovRP6sSPxdqPwPYBWzcb7fmLGS2FYlHl3tzRYXZVIAVgrnOfM2ueLLOb04asAdWmiDweZHzYvobwfJyOmzhdOZ3DVmbk6tHaXOTFwOysTMevEjSszTtV0U~9qi-hyT0XAc5mf84RgB4~vVU4qAVASF3d-cYx9H6KXzwX9MJE4eckJGO~cNrZBKtuiIvKPfUDpDtWSk6hH7GN6tvZAr~Y-7pN1WzAkEd5t-YanCJhtZkpqzMgdanQxhp4YTNUD~WFg45c6Onzh9Yd2GD0q2ezqIDnbqmB-3ERhHfkCGct8W2mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rio Grande City commissioners approved a slate of expenditures on April 10 under the local‑government exemption for contracts and purchases between $5,000 and $50,000, the city’s finance staff said.

Finance staff told the commission the city’s annual audit required more work this year because of an increase in grant activity and purchase orders; the auditor’s contract was $70,000 and the audit exceeded that contract by roughly $8,000. Staff recommended paying the additional amount to complete the audit.

The commission also approved the purchase of ClearGov budgeting software to replace spreadsheets. The software was described as less expensive than a previous product the city used and intended to help staff produce a professional budget. The city discussed and approved a one‑year InvoiceCloud module required for the Tyler Technologies billing system; the module’s first‑year cost is $7,330, InvoiceCloud will cover $5,000 of that amount, and the city’s share was cited as $2,330.

Staff presented a $28,750 invoice for planning services tied to the EDAP water‑improvements project; staff said that work will be reimbursed from EDAP funds already allocated to the project. An item from GrantWorks for downtown revitalization administrative services will be submitted to the state program (TDA) for reimbursement; staff said the city typically receives reimbursement within two weeks of certification but estimated review could take a bit longer on this submission.

Commissioners reviewed invoices related to airport work — a beacon and runway LED replacements — and asked staff to confirm grant matches and exact amounts; the transcript included an unclear reference to an amount in the $40,000 range but the precise figure was not specified in the record. Staff also reported recurring charges such as quarterly risk‑management reviews for the water and wastewater plants (AARC) and chemical purchases the water treatment plant required after heavy rains to control turbidity.

During discussion, commissioners asked whether payments would be made before or after reimbursement; staff said the city typically waits for grant funds to be received and, once received, has five business days to issue payment to contractors but sought council approval because the items exceed $5,000. The motion to approve the listed expenditures carried.

The commission approved item 3a as presented and moved on to other agenda items.","The commission approved several expenditures under the local-government exemption covering an $8,000 audit overrun, purchase of ClearGov budgeting software, a one‑year InvoiceCloud module (city share $2,330) and multiple water‑project and airport invoices; several items will be reimbursed by state or grant funds, officials said.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6267765,"Rio Grande City honors sergeant who rescued two people from the Rio Grande after smuggling pursuit",650,136000,786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3063914-317b6d439d257a28775673943136868a&start=136&end=786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3063914-317b6d439d257a28775673943136868a/thumbnail_136000.jpg","/articles/6267765/Rio-Grande-City/Starr-County/Texas/Rio-Grande-City-honors-sergeant-who-rescued-two-people-from-the-Rio-Grande-after-smuggling-pursuit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6267765-9c018e352d231ab25651eef14467a427/orig.mp4?Expires=1775189094&Signature=g5~2nYpg7aeoNn~Y3cuTqKkZTCQYTILonMiy0B64eVgNdsvSAwJqYirgw5RPiC~qX6InCiv2QIRuUqUjbM88CwPW1juG~z95f1EqetClkVNrw~ObiJh3IY4PK~iRLowuysWzFb~ULgoHn8JUOcZ2yL1Ht74CWrBa~LusXd9~z4PXKwjp5y1rHRGyWACmBZRT1ANiVJ~VyTY1RwTlirubKhVg6KJREeAgzWHRdPZCzgTk7qLIs5IcydpJv7CXZ5Aa7GWzRqxAC~W0G1Np83eKStQh3KBNpeHI7quglavl87I5pBCBQT1OVZh8dGk6DU1Vafws3ZOa1RkVCRyMDdcwkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rio Grande City commissioners on April 10 honored Sergeant Epifanio Perez of the Rio Grande City Police Department after a high-speed pursuit ended near the Rio Grande and two people being smuggled into the United States entered the river and faced life‑threatening conditions.

Mayor Falcone told the commission that Perez “launched himself into the river and successfully rescued both individuals, ultimately saving their lives,” and presented him with an award of valor on behalf of the city. Chief Joey Solis joined the recognition.

The commission said the pursuit involved a driver transporting undocumented aliens who fled toward the river. Perez described the rescue to the commission: “Once we got close to the female, we were able to grab the female, escorted out.” He said he then swam to a second submerged person, held on to a stump while treading water, and brought the individual to Border Patrol and DPS officers who arrived on scene.

Perez told the commission that he and other officers had participated in a three‑day training covering river rescue operations with neighboring agencies, including Riverside Police Department and Riverside City Fire Department. Mayor Falcone and Chief Solis emphasized that the rescue illustrated the value of interagency training and preparedness.

An award of valor presented to Perez was dated 04/10/2025 and cited “braving the river’s current to rescue another life and facing an unsafe situation and significant risk to his own personal safety.” Mayor Falcone and Chief Solis thanked Perez and other agencies for the coordinated response.

The commission’s recognition closed a morning agenda segment on public safety before the body proceeded with its scheduled business.","The Rio Grande City Commission recognized Sergeant Epifanio Perez of the Rio Grande City Police Department on April 10 after he entered the Rio Grande and rescued two people following a high-speed pursuit, officials said.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Rio Grande City approves travel requests, extends local disaster declaration

Rio Grande City approves under‑$50,000 expenditures including audit overrun, budget software and water‑project invoices

Rio Grande City honors sergeant who rescued two people from the Rio Grande after smuggling pursuit