Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Local Government Resolutions topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commissioners adopt resolutions honoring therapy animals, volunteers, veterans and local leaders
Summary
El Paso County Commissioners on April 20 approved a slate of ceremonial resolutions recognizing therapy-animal volunteers, Shared Parenting Day, Crystal Long'Day, Rio Grande Honor Flight, Global Youth Service Day and National Volunteer Week. The actions were approved by voice votes and followed brief presentations and remarks from partners and judges.
El Paso County Commissioners on April 20 adopted a series of resolutions honoring local volunteer programs, veterans groups and community leaders.
The court unanimously approved a proclamation naming April 30, 2026, Animal Therapy Day to recognize Pause for Love and Pet Partners volunteers who visit hospitals, veterans homes and long-term care facilities. "We do visit at the veterans home and any veterans home that wants us to come and visit, we do go and we help with their PTSD," said Cynthia, a Pause for Love volunteer who addressed the court with several handlers and therapy dogs.
The court also adopted a resolution recognizing April 26 as Shared Parenting Day and highlighted the Domestic Relations Office's education programs. Brian Stanley of the Domestic Relations Office described shared-parenting education and services that the office provides to support custody and visitation stability.
Other approved resolutions included a proclamation honoring Crystal Long on her retirement from GECU and naming May 1, 2026, "Crystal Long Day," and a resolution recognizing the Rio Grande Honor Flight for transporting local veterans to Washington, D.C. for memorial visits. Dennis Prriket, chairman of the Rio Grande Honor Flight board, asked the public for sustaining sponsorships to reduce a multi-hundred-veteran waiting list.
County leaders also marked Global Youth Service Day (April 25) and declared the week of April 19'25 National Volunteer Week, with juvenile-probation staff and county volunteer coordinators describing youth service projects and a growing county volunteer program.
The court discussed but did not change funding details in the resolutions; most items were ceremonial recognitions and carried by voice vote with no roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript.
Votes at a glance - Item 5B: Proclaimed April 30, 2026 Animal Therapy Day (approved; motion by Commissioner Butler, second by Judge Sango; "Motion carries"). - Item 5C: Recognized Shared Parenting Day (approved; motion by Commissioner Butler, second by Judge Sango; motion carries). - Item 5D: Proclaimed May 1, 2026 Crystal Long Day (approved; motion by Commissioner Butler, second by Judge Sango; motion carries). - Item 5A: Recognized Rio Grande Honor Flight (approved; motion by Judge Sango, second by Commissioner Coronado; motion carries). - Item 5H / 5F: Recognized Global Youth Service Day and National Volunteer Week (approved; motions carried). - Item 5G: Adopted resolution encouraging public understanding of federal grand-jury service (approved; motion recorded as carried).
Why it matters: These resolutions are largely ceremonial but serve as public signposts of county priorities'from veterans services and volunteerism to family-court education and community recognition. Several presenters used the votes as opportunities to ask for community support or funding (notably Rio Grande Honor Flight). The court also heard public comments about animal-shelter access and possible county partnerships, topics the court left for follow-up action.
What's next: Several presenters requested continuing support (fundraising or volunteer recruitment). The court approved a separate operational transition plan for the El Paso Area Transportation Services LGC and received staff briefings on ongoing park, shelter and infrastructure projects that may return to the court for funding or contract action.
