City issues addressed

By PETE BANDA
Special to the NEWS

The San Benito City Commission held a regular meeting earlier this month where an array of topics were discussed and approved.

As always, the meeting commenced with public comment before jumping to the approval of purchase orders and new ordinances. The commission meeting was one of the last two San Benito has scheduled before the New Year.

Longtime Resaca City resident Santiago Perez began with a public comment raising the issue of the chain of command within the City. According to Perez, multiple City issues arose for him during the last week with every department giving him what he described as “the runaround” by sending him to a different city departments. The outspoken Perez added that there should be a more precise way for finding out which division of City operation every issue should be reported to.

After the approval of minutes from earlier meetings, the Commission moved on to the approval of multiple large purchases. The first, a $54,770 order for new rifle ballistic plates for the Police Department, comes on the heels of the tragic shooting of Lt. Milton Resendez. According to San Benito Police Chief Mario Perea, the new ballistic plates will provide much needed upgrades to officer safety.

“These new vests are rated for rifles and will be worn by our officers at all times,” said Perea. “Concern for officer safety is at the forefront of everyone’s minds right now, and I think this is something that will help tremendously in that area.”

The $54,770 will cover the purchase of 45 ballistic vests and will be almost completely paid for by a grant from the Attorney General. Perea noted that the City would be reimbursed by the grant program upon approval of the purchase order.

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