Not city’s responsibility: San Benito stands firm it has no obligation to fix pot holes

By FREDDY JIMENEZ
Special to the NEWS

The fate of Railroad Avenue, an unpaved and almost inaccessible road parallel to the railway in between Mayfield Road and Oscar Williams Road, is now uncertain after city officials have declared that public funds cannot be used on private property as a way to improve its conditions, as mandated by law. Any other intervention would be too costly.

Railroad Avenue made headlines late last year and this year after one of the road’s residents made efforts to bring its condition to the city’s attention. In an in-depth interview on the scene with said resident, Jesse Robles, the NEWS reported that the road was abundant with potholes, bumps, dips of various lengths and sizes, and untamed brush and scattered trash, which hindered city services such as trash collectors and postal workers from passing through. It was also previously reported that the road falls under the private property of Union Pacific Railroad.

In an email to the media last week, Union Pacific stated they had offered a proposal to the city, though they did not specify its details. The NEWS sat down with Public Relations Director Martha McClain, Assistant City Manager/Interim Police Chief Fred Bell, and City Manager Manuel De La Rosa (DLR), who explained the logistics and recent developments of the matter at hand.

“Union Pacific owns property, half of the dirt road designated on the maps as Railroad Avenue. The rest is owned by private landowners,” said De La Rosa. He continued by reading from their email, “‘Union Pacific provided a proposal to the city in May that would give the city access to upgrade and maintain the road. We are awaiting a response from city leaders.’”

City commissioners in early January voted to allow De La Rosa to reach out to Union Pacific to work out a new deal, which was after Robles, at a Jan. 15 city commission meeting, presented unto the city officials documents from the 1980s and ’90s outlining petitions and letters of agreements between past city commissions and the railway company allowing the city to maintain Railroad Avenue. DLR also told the NEWS then that the city cannot use public assets on private property. According to Parks & Recreation Director Art Garza, Union Pacific did not contact the City until May, offering a lease agreement although the terms and conditions on it were not clear then either.

“Cost proposals,” said De La Rosa. “Just like this email stated very specifically: Union Pacific owns lands and [so do] private landowners. What it doesn’t say there is that the City owns it. The City cannot utilize public, taxpayer funds, on private property.”

Taking all that into account, Jesse Robles, who has recently moved to San Antonio but is still in constant contact with Railroad Avenue residents, among them his parents, told the NEWS, “Railroad Avenue never asked for a new road, just help repairing it. A donation of crumbled gravel from a new paved road, or even any gravel left abandoned would’ve helped plenty. No residents of any city should have to drive up and down a road from home covered in serious pot holes, along truck loads of forgotten brush. This road has an overflowing dumpster at the end of it, which is also taking the strength out of the backs of the elderly residents. Shame on these city leaders.”

Editor’s note: This article has been edited for length. To read the full story, click here or make sure to grab a copy at one of our various newspaper racks.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2019/09/13/not-citys-responsibility-san-benito-stands-firm-it-has-no-obligation-to-fix-pot-holes/

8 comments

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    • Rafael R Resendez on September 29, 2019 at 4:07 pm
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    Why don’t you guys come move over here to Harlingen.. every city has their problems but San Benito seems to have more than others constantly

  1. Time to get rid of the worst Mayor in the history of San Benito. San Benito has lost things that it was known for due to the City Manager and what is worse he was allowed to do it. We need elected officials that will honestly do what is right for the citizens of the city. The Mayor and Commission have lost ten votes. But remember a sitting commissioner only won by 6 votes last election. Time for a change in leadership Citizens and voters.

    • tony on September 23, 2019 at 11:42 am
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    They don’t even fix the city streets. San pocito is just a big joke . They promise you the world when they are up for reelection. and what do they do nothing. What a big joke .

      • Martin V on September 23, 2019 at 2:53 pm
      • Reply

      Lololol.. San pocito.. that’s a good one!

    • Noel on September 14, 2019 at 9:39 pm
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    If people dont like the road then either fix it yourself or dont drive on it

    • Jesse Robles on September 14, 2019 at 5:25 pm
    • Reply

    @RailroadAvenue via Facebook

    • BRANDON Rey LEAL on September 14, 2019 at 4:44 pm
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    You guys should see joins road in san Benito its horrible and I go through it every day I have to

    • Carlos Luna on September 14, 2019 at 11:36 am
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    If the railroad won’t provide funds to repair the road that they make money from, then the city should take it via eminent domain. Or, deny the RR use of the road and rail until they put up a fiat amount in order to repair the road. However the line that the city “can’t” do something is so much tripe…they sure can collect taxes! How about making an amendment to this rule for public/private thoroughfares? It’s the way business is going so get used to it…the old rules don’t apply any longer.

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