San Angelo City Council recognized retiring City Manager Daniel Valenzuela in this morning's meeting. Mayor Tom Thompson shared a number of adjectives regarding his experience with Daniel. I attended with the intention of speaking during public comment but changed my mind after hearing Valenzuela speak. He said "I've fall short every day, fall flat on my face."
My public comment highlighted a few of those shortfalls and face plants and I decided it would work just fine in print. It is below:
Mayor, Council members, City Manager Valenzuela and city staff. I wish to highlight a few things as this is Mr. Valenzuela’s last council meeting. Mr. Valenzuela has been a role model for his ability to endure. He joined the city in 2012 and immediately faced several trials brought on by staff. Water Chief Will Wilde purchased over $100,000 of new furniture without the approval of Assistant City Managers Elizabeth Grindstaff and Interim City Manager Michael Dane. I obtained a copy of the internal investigation which was undated and unsigned.
The City then eliminated its Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinic, parked the staff in other departments so it could get Medicare 1115 Waiver funding to reinstate, improve and expand services in a new facility. Medicare took back money for the new building but forgave the city for not fulfilling its promises to increase clinical staff, extend hours or conduct clinics in outreach locations. Medicare looked the other way when the city closed its critical public health clinic for fifteen months due to COVID. Meanwhile, another part of the federal government gave the city millions.
The city had roughly $640,000 remaining in 1115 Waiver funds as of early March. That is over twelve years of annual rent. I find it odd that an initial three-year program to increase local healthcare access can fund the same STD program that existed months prior in the same physical space for well over several decades. It’s the Feds money and apparently, they like funding long term rent.
Early in Mr. Valenzuela’s job city economic development staff characterized Mayor Alvin New as an advisory board member for MedHab. This was a misrepresentation. Mayor New was full member of the company’s board of directors with full fiduciary duties. City leaders changed economic development rules to fund MedHab’s production site. Those 400 promised jobs never arrived.
City Manager Valenzuela handled all these events with decorum, aplomb and endurance.
Texans need endurance given the economic landscape that faces us. Many recall the Shale boom and its impact. A potential data center boom looms with demands on water, infrastructure, housing, and the electrical grid. That grid failed millions in February 2021. We were reduced to frigid pioneers with texting capabilities for five days.
As a result, we installed a solar system with battery backup. Nearly all the initial projections have not been realized. The state added delivery charges and Reliant Energy now pays us half of the amount for power that they did 15 months ago, while charging us more. There is no competition for our power in the Texas Electrical cartel.
Mr. Valenzuela, in your retirement may you avoid governments telling you to enjoy the creekless creek, to put up with the humless hum, to not smell the gasless gas emissions and to proudly pay the billless bill for ever increasing rent, insurance, water and electricity.
Promises are made, projections offered and assumptions shared. Reality occurs. It is rare that there is an accounting of gaps between and responsibility taken.
San Angelo and the Concho Valley are entering a new phase and I recommend everyone buckle up. The big money boys have found us and they don't like to share.
Citizens will need more than Valenzuela's ability to endure. We will need "Booger Red's" legendary riding skills. Frankly, it's now ride or be ridden.
Government is supposed to be the counterbalance to runaway exploitation of people, resources and the public commons. I understand our new City Manager has unique skills. I hope that includes dealing with the big money boys.
No comments:
Post a Comment