Mayor Chris Boswell, Elected LRGVDC President

3rd Annual Bus Roadeo

LRGVDC Rio Transit Installing Bus Shelters Throughtout the Region

LRGVDC Celebrates 9-1-1 Telecomunicators

A Regional Success, B-HIT Conference

City of Mercedes Ground Breaking

Are you Prepared for A Disaster

Seniors and PromotorasProvided Information on Medicare and Medicaid

REGIONAL PURSUITS is the newsletter published by the LRGVDC.

This publication is financed in part through funding assistance from State

and Federal grants.REGIONAL PURSUITS is available without cost

and inquiries should be directed to:

Ken Jones, Executive DirectorLower Rio Grande Valley Development Council

311 N. 15th Street, McAllen, TX 78501-4705E-Mail: info@lrgvdc.orgwebsite: www.lrgvdc.org

(956) 682-3481, Fax (956) 631-4670;

JUNE 2010 • VOLUME LXV

Mayor Chris Boswell Elected LrgvdC President

At a recent Membership meeting of the Lower Rio Grande Valley

Development Council (LRGVDC), Mayor Chris Boswell was unanimously elected President of the Board. “I am extremely honored to have been elected as the new LRGVDC President, and I look forward to continuing the positive momentum and progress created by Past Presidents of this organization. The regional approach is an effective way to address the comprehensive needs of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and the LRGVDC will continue to be a leader in this regard,” stated Mayor Boswell.

The remaining LRGVDC Board officers elected are: 1st Vice President, Hidalgo Mayor Pro-tem Alvin Samano; 2nd Vice President, the Honorable Norma G. Garcia; Secretary, Edcouch Mayor Pro-tem Eddy Gonzalez; Treasurer, Brownsville Commissioner Edward Camarillo, and Immediate Past President, McAllen Commissioner John Ingram. Other members elected to the LRGVDC Board of Directors include: Commissioner Sophia Benavidez,

Cameron County; Commissioner Hector “Tito” Palacios, Hidalgo County; Judge Pro-tem Aurelio Guerra, Willacy County; Commissioner Roel Landa, City of Alamo; Mayor David S. Simmons, City of Donna; Council Member Gus Garcia, City of Edinburg; Mayor Steve Brewer, City of La Feria; Mayor Joel Quintanilla, City of Mercedes; Mayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas, City of Mission; Mayor Leo “Polo” Palacios, Jr., City of Pharr; Mayor Orlando Correa, City of Raymondville; Commissioner Celeste Sanchez, City of San Benito; Mayor Pro-tem Lupe Rodriguez, City of San Juan; Commissioner Robert J. Garza, City of Weslaco; Dr. Cesar Maldonado, TSTC; Mr. Roberto Loredo, Donna I.S.D.; Mr. Gale Armstrong, El Jardin Water Supply Corporation; Mr. Michael G. Wilson, Port Mansfield PUB & Willacy County Navigation District; Mr. Don Medina, Member-at-Large; and Mr. Arturo Ramirez, Grassroots Organizations.

The LRGVDC Board meetings are normally held the 4th Thursday of each month. For more information on meeting times and locations please visit our website at www.lrgvdc.org.

Outgoing Board President Commissioner John Ingram (left) was recognized with a plaque presented by newly elected Board President Mayor Chris Boswell at the June LRGVDC Board of Directors meeting.

3rd Annual Bus RoadeoLRGVDC Transit Drivers Place at Regional, State Bus RoadeosLRGVDC hosted the 3rd Annual Lower

Rio Grande Valley Regional Bus Roadeo on March 28, 2010 at the Weslaco City Hall. A total of 23 drivers from McAllen Express Transit, The Wave (SPI), Rainbow Lines (Community Action Council), Brownsville Urban System, Le Fleur, and the LRGVDC Transit Service competed in various events showcasing their skills & knowledge. Events included a written exam, a post-trip inspection, wheelchair securement, and an obstacle course in which buses had to be maneuvered through a series of difficult turns, reverse moves, and sudden stops. Over 200 people attended the event, which also featured rides for the kids, clowns, country singer Chris Marshall, and a delicious brisket lunch prepared by LRGVDC Transit’s own Robert Diaz.

The Roadeo featured three levels of competition: 35 foot bus, paratransit bus,

and van. Ruben Padilla, an LRGVDC driver for over 2 years, won 2nd place in the paratransit division. Ruben Ruiz, who has been driving for the LRGVDC for one year, won 1st place in the van competition. Other LRGVDC participants included Rolando Garza, Aurelio Medrano, and Bert Rangel.

Congratulations to Ruben and Ruben on their performances!

LRGVDC Bus Roadeo participants l-r: Aurelio Medrano, Rolando Garza, Ruben Padilla, and Ruben Ruiz. Not pictured: Bert Rangel

Ruben Padilla, 2nd Place Winner in the

Para Transit Division

Ruben Ruiz, 1st Place winner in the Van

Competition

The Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council has begun installing bus shelters in Cameron and Hidalgo Counties as part of the American Recovery Reinvestment Act program. Some of the City shelter locations are: Alamo, Donna, Edinburg, Harlingen, La Feria, Mercedes, Mission, Pharr, San Benito, Santa Rosa, San Juan and Weslaco. A total of sixty-one (61) shelters will be installed to provide a more comfortable place for the public while waiting for the bus. Additionally each shelter will be provided with a bus stop sign and a kiosk with route information. For information on LRGVDC’s Regional Transit Service please contact Mr. Manuel Flores, Transit Services Director or visit our web site at lrgvdc.org.

LRGVDC Rio Transit InstallingBus Shelters Throughout The Region

Ruben Ruiz and Ruben Padilla advanced to the Texas State Bus Roadeo held on April 17 in Corpus Christi. Ruben Ruiz placed 4th and Ruben Padilla placed 7th in the State Competition. A total of 26 regional Roadeo driving champions from throughout the state, including Austin, Dallas, and Waco competed in their division.

The LRGVDC 9-1-1 Department’s Public Education Team continues to educate the leaders of the future by conducting a 9-1-1 presentation at Henry B. Gonzalez Elementary of La Joya I.S.D.

The students maintained focus as Assistant Director Sergio Castro presented the Do’s and Don’ts of 9-1-1. At the conclu-sion of the presentation the children received a goody bag full of 9-1-1 educational material to take home and share with their families. The Public Education Team prides itself on its abil-ity to educate large groups in an effort to increase public safety and awareness.

LRGVDC Celebrates 9-1-1 Telecommunicators

Cell Phone Sally, Mayor Leo “Polo” Palacios, LRGVDC Board President, Commissioner John Ingram, and Red E. Fox

Sergio Castro asking if children know their address

Cell Phone Sally and Children

Telecommunicators week in April 2010 was a success in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Holding its First Annual

Telecommunicators Awards Ceremony the LRGVDC 9-1-1 staff was able to provide a night to remember for both the Telecommunicators and the community. Telecommunicators arrived anxiously at the Pharr International Convention Center to enjoy the evening and awaited the announcement of the winners for the following awards:

• Telecommunicator of the Year; Minerva Perez, Donna PD• Communications Center Leader of the Year; Donna Ennis, Donna PD• Crew leader of the Year; Joan De La Fuente, McAllen PD• Best Individual Performance during a Critical Incident; Irma Edwards, Donna PD• Best Group Performance during a Critical Incident; Communications Division, Pharr PD• Trainer of the Year; Martha Reyes, McAllen PD

Telecommunicators and their guests were greeted by LRGVDC 9-1-1 Department staff and received goody bags and plaques of appreciation as they entered the Pharr Convention Center. Amongst the guests at the event were public administrators ready to lend their hand in presenting awards and personally thanking telecommunicators from all agencies.

One of the many surprises the LRGVDC 9-1-1 staff had for their guests were the unveiling of their new mascot! “Cell Phone Sally” made her debut as the new face of Public Education for 9-1-1. Posing for snapshot after snapshot with telecommunicators and guests, Cell Phone Sally stole the spot light.

Planning for the second Annual Telecommunicators Awards Ceremony is already underway.

The Public Education Team introduced 9-1-1’s new mascot,

Cell Phone Sally, and showed for the first time Cell Phone Sally’s video.

CONTACTS FOR LRGVDC ADMINISTERED PROGRAMS

ExECuTIVE COMMITTEEMayor Chris Boswell PresidentCity of Harlingen

Mayor Pro-Tem Alvin Samano 1st Vice-PresidentMember-At-Large

Hon. Norma G. Garcia 2nd Vice-PresidentMember-At-Large

Mayor Pro-Tem Eddy Gonzalez SecretaryCity of Edcouch

Commissioner Edward C. Camarillo TreasurerCity of Brownsville

Commission John Ingram Immediate Past PresidentCity of McAllen

REMAINING BOARD MEMBERSCommissioner Sofia Benavidez Cameron CountyCommissioner Hector “Tito” Palacios Hidalgo CountyJudge Pro-Tem Aurelio Guerra Willacy CountyCommissioner Roel Landa City of AlamoMayor David S. Simmons City of DonnaCouncil Member Gus Garcia City of EdinburgMayor Steve Brewer City of La FeriaMayor Joel Quintanilla City of MercedesMayor Norberto “Beto” Salinas City of MissionMayor Leo “Polo” Palacios, Jr. City of PharrMayor Orlando Correa City of RaymondvilleCommissioner Celeste Sanchez City of San BenitoMayor Pro-Tem Lupe Rodriguez City of San JuanCommissioner Robert J. Garza City of WeslacoDr. Cesar Maldonado T.S.T.C.Mr. Roberto Loredo Donna I.S.D.Mr. Gale Armstrong El Jardin Water SupplyMr. Michael G. Wilson Willacy County Navigation DistrictMr. Don Medina Member-At-LargeMr. Arturo Ramirez Grassroots Organizations

Kenneth N. Jones, Jr. Executive DirectorAnn Lyles Director, FinanceAnna Hernandez Director, Human ResourcesTerrie Salinas Director, Economic DevelopmentJoe Gonzalez Director, Area Agency of AgingManuel Flores Director, Transit Services

Andrew Canon Director, Hidalgo County MPOManuel Cruz Director, Homeland SecurityJuan Gomez Director, 9-1-1 ServicesVictor Morales Director of ProcurementPaul Williams Director, Regional Police Academy & Training CenterMarcie Oviedo Director, Regional Planning

Lower Rio Grande Valley Development CouncilBOARD OF DIRECTORS 2010-2011

In April of 2010, the LRGVDC conducted the First Annual Economic Development & Emergency Management Conference. Coordinated by the LRGVDC Economic Development Department, the conference was held at sunny South Padre Island in the Convention Centre for three extraordinary days. The LRGVDC partnered with the Departments of Emergency Management in Cameron, Hidalgo, and Willacy Counties to coordinate and improve regional disaster preparedness, planning, and response. The conference’s main focus was to provide South Texas with a common sense approach to disaster business recovery and to provide leadership skills for handling natural and/or man-made disasters.

The conference brought 175 diverse attendees from across the Rio Grande Valley to network and prepare for the upcoming 2010 hurricane season. This event united Public Officials, Business Owners, and local Volunteers to train together and learn each other’s role during a disaster. The conference

had 32 Vendors and 16 Sponsors who helped defray conference costs and whose support made this event a great success. Vendors that participated were from federal, state, and local non-profit agencies, and local Media coverage was provided by Channel 4, a CBS Affiliate.

To kick off the event, we were honored to have Judge Carlos Cascos of Cameron County as our keynote speaker and State Representative Aaron Pena, House Select Committee Member as our luncheon speaker. Both, gentlemen spoke about the importance of a comprehensive response to regional disasters and the necessity of building local partnerships to support our communities.

For a change in venue, Staff contracted Efrain Guerrero, aka “Happy”, a famous and, local comedian who came to entertain our guests. Happy is originally from San Benito and was well known personally by most of the participants. His presentation was a pleasant and relaxing experience compared to the seriousness of the overall topics of this conference.

Plans are already underway for the Second Annual Economic Development & Emergency Management Conference next year. For further information, please contact Terrie Salinas, Director of Economic Development at 956.682.3481. See you next year!!

L to R: Terrie Salinas, Comedian “Happy”, Gloria Banda Gonzalez, Abel Atkinson

L to R: Frank Torres, Tony Pena, Johnny Cavazos, Judge Carlos Cascos, Father Vega

LRGVDC’s Homeland Security Exhbit for CERT

L to R: Terrie Salinas and State Rep. Aaron Pena

“A regional Success, B-HIT ConferenceOn Creating disaster resilient Communities”

CITY OF MERCEDES GROUND BREAKINGOn May 3, 2010, the City of Mercedes held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Improvement and Expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA) funded the proposed upgrade and expansion of the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant in the amount of $1.2 million. The City of Mercedes and Texas Water Development Board will be utilizing loan proceeds to match the project’s requirements. This EDA Project expansion will also assist with the second phase of the infrastructure for the Rio Grande Valley Premium Outlets. This expansion will bring additional business and revenue to the City of Mercedes, and the estimated time of completion of the project is by May, 2012. For more information on the potential for EDA funding in your community please contact Terrie Salinas, LRGVDC Economic Development Director at 956-682-3481.

“ARE YOU PREPARED FOR A DISASTER”G-317 Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Training

Texas A&M, CHUD - Colonias Program and South Texas College Citizen Volunteers

During the months of April and May 2010, LRGVDC staff managing the Citizen Corps Program, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), provided assistance and training to two additional CERT Teams for community volunteers from the Texas A&M, Center for Housing and Urban Development (CHUD) in Weslaco and South Texas College faculty and students from the McAllen campus. The CERT course provided the knowledge and skills citizen volunteers need to effectively

serve their community; efforts to prepare for local emergencies and respond to them were the focus. The CERT teams for the City of Weslaco and City of McAllen are organized, trained, and equipped to educate the public in emergency preparedness and most importantly will perform many of the emergency functions needed in the aftermath of a disaster. These two teams will coordinate and supplement the efforts of the community’s professional emergency response staff.

CERT is about readiness, people helping people, rescuer safety, and doing the greatest good for the greatest number. CERT is a positive and realistic approach to emergency and disaster situations where citizens will be initially on their own and their actions can make a difference. Through training, citizens can manage utilities and put out small fires; treat the three killers by opening airways, controlling bleeding, and treating for shock; provide basic medical aid; search for and

rescue victims safely and organize themselves and spontaneous volunteers to be effective.

Since 2006, with collaborative efforts between the LRGVDC and first responders from the City’s of Brownsville, Edinburg, Harlingen, McAllen, Mission, and Weslaco the Citizen Corps / Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program has provided Disaster Preparedness training to the citizens of this region and has trained over 200 CERT volunteers. If you’re ready for a challenge and would like to

participate in the CERT program, please contact Manuel Cruz, Director of Homeland Security at (956) 682-3481 Ext. 105.

Seniors and Promotoras Provided Information on Medicare and Medicaid

The Area Agency on Aging coordinated an event for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services that addressed several key issues affecting seniors. Topics included Medicaid Fraud, Financial Exploitation, Social Security E-Services, and the Low-Income Subsidy Program. The event was held at the Las Palmas Community Center in McAllen on Thursday, May 13th. Seniors from the Palmview and Lark Community Centers in McAllen also attended this event. The morning session had over 150 seniors the afternoon session was dedicated to providing information to 48 promotoras.

Able Atkinson, LRGVDC ED Planner; Gloria Banda, LRGVDC ED Planner; Congressman Ruben Hinojosa, Terrie Salinas, LRGVDC Economic Development Director.

Texas A&M CHUD, Weslaco CERT Team & Weslaco Fire Department

Richard Stubbs from the City of Weslaco Fire Dept. instructs CERT members on approaching and extinguishing a fire.

South Texas College, McAllen CERT Team & McAllen Fire Department

Pictured from left to right are: Jesse Villarreal, Public

Works Dir. City of Mercedes, Richard LeFevre, P.E.

Guzman & Munoz Engineering, Jose Luis Munoz,

P.E. Guzman & Munoz Engineering, Ken Jones,

Executive Dir. LRGV Development Council, Armando

“Mando” Martinez, State Representative Dist. 29, Joel

Quintanilla, Mayor City of Mercedes, Ruben Hinojosa,

Congressman 15th Dist., Kevin Ward, Executive

Administrator Texas Water Development Board,

John Steib, ARRA Program Director, Diana Tovar,

Commissioner City of Mercedes, Troy Hill, EPA Region 6,

and Ricardo Garcia, City Manager City of Mercedes. Mercedes Wastewater Plant is located on (East Side) Dawson Road & Mile 8 North.