AEP vote scheduling delayed
MARFA — It is not yet clear when the Marfa City Council will vote on the proposed American Electric Power (AEP) rezone.
Council members previously told The Big Bend Sentinel that they would discuss when to schedule the vote at their August 12 meeting. That discussion did not occur. After the meeting council members said they are waiting for an opinion from the city attorney before proceeding with scheduling the vote. Many residents have warned if council approves the rezone they will be sued and it could be constituted as illegal spot zoning.
On Tuesday resident Al Davis, who has been in the real estate business for decades, said if the city is sued it will put a serious strain on the city’s budget and staff. “It would be really nice to be able to have that money spent on city services rather than a lawsuit,” Davis said. “If I’m sitting in your chair, I think it’s highly risky.”
Resident and previous council member Buck Johnston also spoke during public comment on Tuesday to ask for the recusal of Council Member Eddie Pallarez, who worked for AEP for 46 years. Johnston said Pallarez has acted as the “poster boy” for AEP for the past 24 years that she’s lived in town, and he attended a P&Z hearing in which he sat next to AEP representatives and advocated for the rezone. She said his involvement could also open the city up to a lawsuit if the rezone goes through.
“He should recuse himself,” Johnston said. “I believe that every one of you, every city councilman or council member sitting here tonight, should be calling for him to do so as well.”
For more information on the AEP rezone visit bigbendsentinel.com/aeprezone
Streets overhaul starts this week
MARFA — The timeline for a total overhaul of several city of Marfa streets has been moved up with construction kicking off around town this week. The city is spending $2.9 million on repairs to the following thoroughfares:
- Russell Street from U.S. 90 north to Columbia Street, excluding work in the railroad right of way
- Mesa Street from U.S. 90 north to Lincoln Street
- North Gonzalez Street from Columbia Street north to 3rd Street
- East Galveston Street from U.S. 67 east to South Dean Street
- 3rd Street from State Highway 17 west to Austin Street
Mayor Manny Baeza told The Sentinel that the construction is estimated to take around six to eight weeks. Signs and staff from Permian Paving will help redirect traffic.
Parks Board seeks to improve downtown pocket park
MARFA — The Marfa Parks and Recreation Board is looking to improve the care and maintenance of the pocket park downtown near the fire station by seeking its formal designation as a city park.
It is a popular site, where visitors to town often snap photos in front of the Marfa “doorway.” The park was, at times, maintained by the Marfa History Club and the local 4H chapter, but it has since fallen by the wayside. It features pathways made of bricks with the names of local families, an artist-designed bench outlining the history of Marfa and many mature native plants.
Parks Board Member Katie Inglis said a recent volunteer clean-up day was well attended, with a local landscape architect advising how to improve the site in the short term and workers pulling weeds and replanting plants. She said the parks board voted unanimously to add the site to its roster, and it has the budget to make the park a pride of the community.
“It’s a peaceful and historically significant green space that deserves attention,” Inglis said. “With formal designation, the Parks and Rec Board would be able to manage it properly and invest in bringing it up to par with the rest of Marfa’s parks.”
“Nearby businesses like Stop & Read Books would, I know, benefit from having well-maintained green space that attracts foot traffic and gives visitors a pleasant place to linger while they’re in town,” she added.
Council members were all supportive of the idea, and the city attorney will now look into the legal process required.
Raul Lara resigns from mayor pro tem position
MARFA — The Marfa City Council accepted the resignation of Council Member Raul Lara as mayor pro tem at its meeting on Tuesday.
Lara is still on the City Council. He has served as the mayor pro tem — a position that involves running public meetings if the mayor is absent — since May 2023. He was on his second term in the role, which runs from May 2025 to May 2027. Lara cited several medical appointments coming up as the reason for this resignation. Council voted to tap Council Member Mark Morrison for the remaining mayor pro tem term.