Atascosa County commissioners suspend dumpster right-of-way ban for 90 days; approve personnel changes, permits and IT access

Atascosa County Commissioners Court voted Oct. 27, 2025, to suspend for 90 days an August order prohibiting dumpsters in county right of way and approved a slate of personnel moves, land permits, a final plat and an addendum to the county's court case-management contract.

The suspension came after staff and the court's right-of-way committee described logistical problems and resident complaints after the order took effect in September. "We're gonna work through that as far as giving options for commissioners to enforce that state statute, rather than necessarily having an additional regulation at the county level," said Britney Van Curren, a rural development staff member. Van Curren said the committee would seek "less restrictive options for enforcement" and recommended the 90-day suspension so staff could develop a plan. She told the court the county had mailed notices to "close to 20 different dumpster companies." The court voted to suspend the order pending the committee's work.

Court members emphasized residents would not be penalized during the suspension while staff develops enforcement guidance. "If you can move it, we would prefer that you do so. But if you cannot, we will work on this situation and we'll be in contact with you," Van Curren said.

Beyond the dumpster item, the court approved several personnel actions requested by county departments. Animal-control staff moved Pedro Agostini from part time to a full-time animal control officer at $22.12 per hour; kennel technician Ann Dubnick received a raise to $20.19 per hour after completing a 90-day probation. The sheriff's office reported promotions to "tier 1" for corrections officers Nathaniel Luby and Jared Fuentes (each to $25.27 per hour) and for patrol deputy Edwin Gonzalez ($28.62 per hour), with standard uniform allowances and probation notes recorded. Road and Bridge personnel changes included a lateral transfer for Joe Slika (CDL driver) and pay adjustments for Jorge Roberto Velasquez, Frank Alakanes Jr. and Juan Morales; start dates and budget codes were entered into the minutes.

Land and permit actions were procedural and carried with little debate. The court approved a certificate of exception for the Lopez family to carve out 2 acres on Cannon Road in Precinct 1; three temporary water-line permits for Commodore Midstream Partners to bring lines into Atascosa County from Karnes County on County Roads 401, 407 and 44447 in Precinct 4; a final plat for the one-lot M and G Addition subdivision on Corn Road (Precinct 4); and certificates of exception for two tracts held by Country Boy Land Investments LLC on FM 791 (Precinct 4).

The county's IT manager described an addendum to the LGS court case-management contract to grant view-only access to the Galveston County Attorney's Office to see scanned district-clerk documents. The county consolidated licensing under a single contract; the addendum increases the county's bill by $100 per month, a change staff said was offset by other savings in hosted services and backup management.

The court also authorized issuing an RFP for planning and grant-administration services related to a General Land Office local hazard-mitigation-plan update; staff said the RFP would be advertised Oct. 29, 2025 as RFP No. 05/2025. The minutes for August and September 2025 were approved, the county recorded 12 continuing-education hours completed by County Clerk Teresa Carrasco, and the court accepted invoices and payroll (claim #4 payroll $35,754.14; claim #51 payroll $753,213.44).

Votes at a glance

- Suspend dumpster right-of-way order for 90 days (motion carried). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Bowen. - Pedro Agostini — full-time animal control officer, $22.12/hr (motion carried). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Pavelic. - Ann Dubnick — kennel technician pay adjustment to $20.19/hr (motion carried). Moved by Commissioner Pavelic; seconded by Commissioner Bowen. - Nathaniel Luby, Jared Fuentes — promotions to tier 1 corrections officers, $25.27/hr (motions carried). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconds varied. - Edwin Gonzalez — patrol deputy to tier 1, $28.62/hr (motion carried). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Bowen. - Certificate of exception, Lopez family, Cannon Road, Precinct 1 (approved). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Bowen. - Temporary water-line permits, Commodore Midstream Partners (CR 401, CR 407, CR 44447, Precinct 4) (approved). Moved by Commissioner Riley; seconds recorded. - Final plat, M and G Addition (one-lot split), Corn Road, Precinct 4 (approved). Moved by Commissioner Riley; seconded by Commissioner Gillespie. - Certificate of exception, Country Boy Land Investments LLC, FM 791, Precinct 4 (approved). Moved by Commissioner Riley; seconded by Commissioner Pavelic. - LGS case-management addendum (view-only access for Galveston County Attorney's Office; +$100/mo) (approved). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Bowen. - Authorize RFP for GLO hazard-mitigation-plan update services (approved). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Pavelic. - Approve minutes for Aug./Sept. 2025 (approved). Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Pavelic. - Accept invoices and payroll (approved) — claim #4 payroll $35,754.14; claim #51 payroll $753,213.44. Moved by Commissioner Gillespie; seconded by Commissioner Pavelic.

The court adjourned and scheduled its next regular meeting for Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.