PRESIDIO COUNTY — Members of the public speaking at Wednesday’s Presidio County Commissioners Court said they were surprised to learn of an ordinance on the agenda that would place comprehensive regulations on SAD — a transmigrantes company that transports cars for sale across the border — to try and clean up the entryway to Presidio.
“I drafted this ordinance based on numerous complaints I’ve seen from people coming into Presidio,” County Attorney Rod Ponton told the court. “Everyone can agree that it’s unsightly,” Ponton said, referencing numerous trailer homes that house workers en route along with many junked vehicles. The draft ordinance would require visual barriers to much of the site and roads that meet county standards, and would prohibit junked vehicles. Ponton has said he also intends to find an enforcement officer to levy fines for violations of the ordinance.
But public speakers told the court they had little notice of the ordinance. Ariel Lara, who owns Valero gas stations in Presidio frequented by the transmigrantes, said he didn’t think the ordinance “was ready for prime time.” “The whole process seems a little rushed,” he wrote in an email to commissioners yesterday. “Most folks didn’t even know there was a hearing [yesterday] morning and even less folks have had a chance to review the language of the proposed ordinance.”
The county held a hearing on the ordinance Tuesday in Presidio, but the notice was only posted on the courthouse door Friday and not emailed to The Big Bend Sentinel nor others usually on a list to receive public notices. Lara said he heard about the hearing when County Judge Joe Portillo texted him a photo of the meeting notice on the courthouse door.
Blair Park, who will take office as county attorney in January, said she hadn’t seen the ordinance until five minutes before the meeting. “The very first paragraph has very sloppy typos,” she said. “It reads as something really rushed to put together.”
“This is the first time I’ve seen it,” said Deirdre Hisler, who will take office as Precinct 1 county commissioner in January. “I think it’s important that we do our due diligence and take our time.”
The Sentinel did not receive a copy of the ordinance by press time. Ponton spoke up and told the court that after feedback at the hearing, he knew the ordinance needed “tweaks,” and he wasn’t going to ask the court to take action on the agenda item. He said his intention was to get moving on regulations for cleanup of the facility. “It’s past time to start cleaning up the entrance to the biggest city in Presidio County,” he said.
The court intended to further discuss the ordinance after The Sentinel deadline. Representatives from SAD (Servicios Aduanales del Desierto) could not be immediately reached for comment.