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El Paso County waives fees for Montana Vista wastewater work and authorizes redistricting litigation
Summary
The Commissioners Court approved a fee waiver to support Phase 2 of the Montana Vista Wastewater Project and authorized the county attorney to explore litigation related to redistricting (LULAC v. Abbott). The court also received an HR update on HB 718 staffing at the tax office.
El Paso County Commissioners Court on Dec. 1 approved a full waiver of county right-of-way entry, access permit and road inspection and maintenance fees to support Phase 2 of the Montana Vista Wastewater Project, contingent on a three-year warranty from El Paso Water on road repairs. The court also voted to authorize the county attorney’s office to explore and enter into litigation pertaining to redistricting in LULAC v. Abbott.
The waiver (consent agenda item 4N) was requested by Renee Leon, legislative liaison for El Paso Water, who told the court the phase will bring first-time wastewater service to roughly 717 properties in the Montana Vista community and follows Phase 1, which served more than 800 homes. “This phase will bring, first time wastewater service to 717 properties in the Montana Vista community,” Leon said, and the utility requested a 100% fee reduction so construction can begin, with a target start in March 2026. The waiver approved by the court is contingent on El Paso Water providing a three-year warranty on all road repair work.
Judge Ricardo Samaniego presided over the consent vote. Commissioner Butler moved to approve the waiver and the judge seconded the motion; the court announced the motion carried. No formal roll-call tally was provided on the record beyond the court’s statement that the motion carried.
Later in the meeting, Assistant County Attorney Anna Schumacher told the court that, given new posting deadlines under the Texas Open Meetings Act, the county attorney’s office should be authorized to pursue litigation related to redistricting. The court voted to approve that authorization on a motion by Commissioner Coronado and a second from Commissioner O'Guin. Schumacher summarized the recommendation as authority for the county attorney’s office “to explore and enter into any and all litigation pertaining to redistricting.”
The actions address distinct county priorities: the wastewater waiver is intended to reduce local cost barriers for a public-health infrastructure project in a historically underserved area, while the litigation authorization positions the county to respond to redistricting legal challenges.
Votes at a glance - Item 4N (Montana Vista Wastewater Project fee waiver): motion by Commissioner Butler, second by Judge Samaniego; outcome: approved (motion carried). Waiver is contingent on a three-year warranty from El Paso Water. - Item 8A (authorize county attorney to pursue litigation related to redistricting / LULAC v. Abbott): motion by Commissioner Coronado, second by Commissioner O'Guin; outcome: approved (motion carried).
What happens next El Paso Water indicated it will pursue construction funding for Phase 3 and is coordinating with the Texas Water Development Board. The county’s authorization allows the county attorney’s office to move forward on redistricting litigation steps as appropriate. The court did not provide a detailed timetable for next steps on either item at the meeting.
