As the Cameron County commissioners move forward to implement their budget-balancing moves by limiting the personal use of county vehicles, the spin on why the rides were suddenly restricted has begun to make the rounds at the county barns.
Last Friday, when mid-level personnel were told they could no longer use the vehicles as personal cars, the bearer of bad news told the workers gathered at the Precinct 1 and Precinct 2 vehicle barns that the ban came from that Bad Old' Carlos Cascos at the county judge's office.There was no mention whatsoever that the limit of the county vehicles had been approved by a majority of the commission, or that Precinct 2 County Commissioner Ernie Hernandez was a prime move to curtail the use of the vehicles.
"Louis Ara, the Public works superintendent, said it was all coming from Cascos' office," said a worker who attended the meeting. "He made it seem like none of the other commissioners wanted to go along with it."
The county commissioners heard a report from the county auditor's office stating that Cameron County spends about $1.8 million on fuel with the bulk of it – about 80 percent – going to law enforcement.However, it is the other vehicles used by precinct supervisors and various departments that have caught the attention of the commissioners and county judge's office.
"We had a guy who lived in Santa Rosa driving the county vehicle to and from his home each day and even went to lunch and back using it," said a county worker. "That made six times that he used the county vehicle to go to his house daily. Obviously, that sort of thing can't go on. That's one of the reasons that the use of vehicles is being curtailed."
Ara, who states in his website that the mission of the Public Works Division is to "to improve the quality life for all citizens of Cameron County through the provision of superior project planning , road construction & maintenance, and other professional services," also states that "we will attain our mission in an ethical manner providing satisfaction to our clients , the Commissioner's Court, and the citizens of Cameron County while respecting our obligations to our community and fulfilling the personal and professional aspirations of our staff."
Now, where in this statement does it say that blaming a political opponent is "ethical?" Hernandez, during the meeting where the decision to limit county vehicle use, said that his analysis of the use of Public Works employees indicated to him that some "expenditures on single persons of $5,000 to $6,000 a year" constituted a waste of money.
Always the consummate political animal, he also said that he has parked his personal vehicle for three weeks since the issue was raised. Not driving to Madison Street from his Paredes Line business should make quite a dent in the $1.8 million fuel budget, you think?
And how will Gabino get to drink coffee with his bod John Wood if he doesn't have his county ride?
9 comments:
Carlos Cascos is a hypocrite,... his assistant Chris Valdez is the biggest abuser of the county cars being taken home! Check his credit card and his cell phone,....how much money do we spend on that do nothing? Look that one up Juan.
All law enforcement officers DO NOT need to take their work vehicles home. I can understand certain supervisors or SWAT members.....but every deputy...and constable? Come on....that's an abuse....you cannot tell me that all of them are on call.....and by the way, I have seen constables using county police cars to do funeral escorts....are they keeping the money being paid for the escorts or is it going back to the county?
As a part of cutting spending, why doesn't the county eliminate the tacky signs that Ernie Hernandes is putting up in Pct. 2....giving him credit for projects paid for by tax payers. I have noticed this week that some pissed off tax payer is tearing Ernie's signs off their posts....or trying to tear them off. This is surely frivoloust spending and is typical of the costs we should cut.
Why not remove the vehicles assigned to all the county commissioners and give them a flat $300.00 a month allowance for personal vehicle use. If they really want to serve their constituency, as they so heartedly express when running for office, they should make the sacrifice and set the example. Starting with Ernie!
Valadez has neither a county vehicle, county phone or county credit card. Check it out through an opens record request. Please.
I.P. Freely
Hernandez is such a hypocrite that he is making money off a contract with the county and trying to set an example by parking his county vehicle? He makes enough money that he can afford to pay gas in his personal car. Take the car completely away from him since he is making money which is a conflict of interest or maybe even a violation of some sort? Cascos has a point but it appears that department heads are not doing their job? If there is abuse, then that department head needs to address it and do his job. We all know that there is nepotism, favoritism, blood lines and "butt kissing" within the departments and that is where the waste is from? Allowing the above to do what they want is what is putting this county in a budget crunch. Call it like it is, DA office, election office, auto theft task force, district and county offices and most of all that idiot county emergency management Barrera!
Anonymous...get the facts straight...the County is not paying for those signs....Ernie is printing them and putting them up on his own dime...dont take my word for it...go check for yourself..
I believe it is totally crazy that Ernie spends tax payers money on these signs...however, that is typical for him. Instead of being so busy looking in other places to cut spending he should look at the ways he spends money in his own precinct. Why does he not consider taking a pay reduction in his salary and recommending that to the other commissioners. It is a shame our county employees have not had a raise in years. This is bad for morale, but you know that awful Ernie could care less.
People! you need to quit pointing fingers about the sign issue. Look up the facts! Ernie pays for those signs...quit assuming it's on taxpayer's money.
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