April 25, 2019 500 AM
PRESIDIO COUNTY – Commissioners last Wednesday met in Presidio to plan for challenges in the 2020 census, continue the ongoing negotiations of a contract for an Airport Director, award a contract to a new auditor, and handle various other business. No members of the Presidio County public attended the meeting, but Commissioner’s pressed forward on a number of important subjects.
Census concerns rise
Judge Cinderela Guevara announced she will be creating two Complete Count Committees as the 2020 census approaches. “They will not actually be doing the counting; they will organize how we get the word out. Every person needs to get counted, because every person counted is $1,600 per person, per year, for 10 years.” Failure to count 1,000 Presidio County residents would equate to missing out on $16 million in federal funding over the next 10 years.
The federal government allocates funding based on county population, and allocates seats in the US House of Representatives based on the census. According to Guevara, “Last time that we had the census, Texas picked up two seats in the House of Representatives.” Historically, Presidio has struggled to be counted accurately. At the Highway 67 meeting this week, City Administrator Joe Portillo said the city has been severely undercounted in the past. The population is officially over 5,000 in the city of Presidio, but estimates based on utilities suggest the real population could be closer to 7,000.
Guevara took aim at the root of the undercounting at the county meeting last week. “In the south county, we have a lot of immigrants living here. There’s such a thing as title thirteen, so the people who knock on their door and get their information, they can’t give it to a law enforcement agency or immigration.”
Commissioners were shocked to learn about another consideration in this coming census. As many Presidio locals have headed to other counties for seasonal work, counties like Ector and Reeves are hoping to count those workers in their census, instead of Presidio’s. Beyond that, Judge Guevara indicated that those counties are also considering an option to count those workers’ families as well, even if the family is still residing in Presidio.
There’s a meeting May 9 in Ector County, regarding the census, which will decide how to handle this issue. Judge Guevara requested a commissioner or someone from the county attend the meeting and fight against having families living in Presidio be counted elsewhere.
Negotiating an airport director contract
Contract negotiations with Chase Snodgrass have been turbulent, ever since the county chose to exempt the position from a bidding process, and instead negotiate directly with Snodgrass, a long-time county employee who is hoping to change to contract work for tax purposes.
Miscommunications led the county to direct law firm Allison, Bass & Magee to draw up an Airport Manager contract, despite Snodgrass always pursuing a director role. Rudy Estor is the county’s airport manager already, and he carries the responsibilities of day-to-day operations at Marfa Municipal Airport and Presidio Lely Airport.
Part of the switch from employee to contractor would be a pay cut for Snodgrass, and it was suggested that the money saved could be reallocated to giving Estor a raise.
Philip Arnold, on behalf of Allison, Bass & Magee told Judge Guevara he “has not heard anything from the court” as to what they would like in the contract. He continued that he was willing to come on May 1 to discuss the contract. The court agreed, and plan to convene in Marfa on May 1 to discuss what hours the court wants Snodgrass to work, what days a week, how much the pay would be, and when it would start.
Commissioner Buddy Knight brought up another contentious part of the negotiations. “I want a guy that’s going to be on the ground once or twice a week to supervise the guys at the Marfa Airport for sure, and whatever happens at the Presidio Airport.” Knight had visited the airport and seen a worker climbing a tower without anyone else around, which raised safety concerns, he said. He wants more supervision, but through negotiations, it has been revealed that Snodgrass plans to live full time in Corpus Christi, and only visit Presidio County.
A friend of Snodgrass, Edward Earwood, chimed in to tout the extreme improvements in airport quality that he’s seen since Snodgrass took control at the airports. He was from a rural community whose airport has been neglected, and is a huge liability, whereas Presidio’s airports actually earn revenues—a rural airport rarity.
After Commissioners voted to bring Arnold to Marfa for a meeting, Commissioner Brenda Bentley concluded, “Hang with us, Chase, we’ll get there.”
Awarding an audit contract
The county is a year behind on audits, and was eager to select a new auditor and get started on the process of the 2018 audit. The Request for Proposals put out earlier this year called for an initial three-year contract, with a possibility of an additional two years. The judge, treasurer, and tax-assessor collector convened to evaluate the four proposals submitted, before ultimately recommending Gibson Ruddock Patterson CPA. “They all quoted us excellent prices. Gibson Ruddock Patterson CPA quoted us $37,725,” County Auditor Patty Roach explained. That price was competitive among the market, and not far from the $35,000 spent with Painter & Associates for the 2017 audit.
From the price perspective, Gibson Ruddock Patterson CPA was the lowest price quoted, but the evaluation team considered the experience of the team, qualifications of their staff, called their recommendations, and reviewed each proposal’s audit strategy before making their recommendation.
County Attorney Rod Ponton endorsed the decision, saying the company has a good reputation in West Texas, and have done audits for Brewster, El Paso County, and the Rio Grande Council of Governments. Ponton added that it was important to get an auditor now “so we don’t lose a year.” Commissioner Eloy Aranda agreed, noting, “If we don’t have an auditor, we won’t apply for any grants, period.”
Other business
-The courthouse’s nearly 20-year-old heating and cooling system is suffering from faulty work done in the past. Guevara was quoted a price of $60,000 in renovations of the heating and cooling systems in the county, as well as repairing the drain system, which is leaking. Commissioners agreed they want a second opinion, or maybe to replace the old system, which might cost the county more in the long run.
-The airport’s construction has not had an adverse impact on fuel sales as the county had originally expected.
-Commissioners confirmed the reappointment of county auditor Roach, ordered by Judge Roy Ferguson for another full term beginning April 4, 2019. Compensation for the auditor and an assistant are ordered to continue.
– A payment was made to Neil Chevigny, to cover the cost for mileage, 2 trips, 2 days, 2 people, a trailer rental, alfalfa, and cubes. Chevigny collected stray cattle off of his land, and billed the costs to the county, who are now holding the cattle. In order to recover his cattle, the owner will have to pay the county back for that cost.
