Fuentes: We have some very exciting and innovative projects in the works

WESLACO, Texas – Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes has been featured in the latest edition of Texas County Progress magazine.

The title of the feature is: “Glimpse in the Life of Hidalgo County Commissioner David Fuentes”

In the article, Fuentes explains that after he ran for Weslaco school board in 2010 and served for six years, he “wanted to make a difference in quality-of-life issues” in his area. And so, he ran for Hidalgo County Commissioner for Precinct One. He was first elected to the county commission in 2017.

“Since becoming Commissioner, I have served in a variety of positions and have sought to broaden my relationships and experiences. Currently, I proudly serve as president of the South Texas County Judges and Commissioners Association. I also participate in a couple of Texas Association of Counties subcommittees,” Fuentes told the magazine.

“I graduated from the TAC Leadership 254 course a couple of years ago and look back at my relationships with my fellow alumni fondly. I also just completed a three-year board position with the Rio Grande Valley Metropolitan Planning Organization (RGVMPO), which is the fifth-largest metropolitan planning organization in the State of Texas.”

Fuentes then listed other boards and commissions he has been serving on.

“I just completed a one-year chairmanship position with the RGVMPO. I am an active member of the Texas Water Development (TWDB) Region M Board and also the TWDB Region 15 Drainage Committee where I participated in creating the state’s first-ever flood plan. I have also served on local boards and committees including the Rio Grande Valley Council of Governments, the South Texas Border Alliance, and the Lower Rio Grande Valley Development Council Regional Water Resource Advisory Committee.”

Fuentes said that in addition to the daily work of road maintenance, parks, and sanitation, his precinct has some “very exciting and innovative projects” that are in the works.

Some of these projects are related to flooding, a perennial problem in parts of the western end of Hidalgo County.

“In 2018, 2019, and 2020, our region experienced devastating rain events that caused widespread flooding in many of the areas I represent. Through two series of bonds, we have engaged in over $380 million of drainage work in Hidalgo County. In addition, we received a TWDB Flood Infrastructure Fund award of over $30 million. We also received almost $20 million from the Texas General Land Office for seven miles of ditch expansions and regional detention facilities to assist with mitigation,” Fuentes said.

Fuentes said Precinct One also has over $100 million in RGVMPO, state, and federal transportation dollars for miles of road expansions.

“Through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), I have a few projects that are currently in construction. The first is a 16-mile regional hike and bike trail. It is the first connective trail that uses drainage and irrigation right of way to connect communities in my precinct. This trail provides alternative mobility and gives our constituents a place to be active and have a healthier lifestyle. Once complete, this trail will connect to an existing trail in neighboring Precinct 2 and will be one of the longer trail systems in Texas,” Fuentes told Texas County Progress.

Another project Precinct One recently started is its Hidalgo County Precinct 1 Wellness, Activity, and Community Center (WACC).

“Construction is underway with scheduled completion in 10-12 months. The WACC is a 30,000-square-foot center that will include regulation-size gyms for basketball, volleyball, pickleball, and indoor tennis. It will also have a weight room and exercise equipment that will be available to county staff and encourage health and wellness. It will be staffed with a nutrition and training coach. It will also have batting cages and a turfed area for indoor training as well as a golf simulator,” Fuentes said, proudly.

“All of these are to provide quality-of-life access for an area that has limited access for children and adults. The facility will also provide access for visiting winter Texans to stay engaged and active. In addition, it will have a classroom where community engagement can take place.”

Fuentes said the WACC classes will expand upon other programs at Precinct One’s other community resource center.

“At that location, we have classes that include English language learning, citizenship classes, work skills training, cooking classes, and art and computer classes. The WACC will also be used for a variety of food drive giveaways that are coordinated with our regional food bank as well as other community outreach programs,” he explained.

Fuentes said he is also currently exploring a way to create a tire recycling program. He said this will help with the illegal dumping of tires throughout the county.

Fuentes concluded his interview with Texas County Progress by discussing Precinct One’s water reclamation project. This has just been approved by TCEQ.

“This innovative project was recently awarded the Texas Rain Catcher Award from the TWDB for its “green” characteristics. The project takes water that flows through our drainage ditch system, over 1,000 miles, and diverts it from the main system into regional detention facilities where it is pushed through a series of reverse osmosis cells/controls after which it becomes potable/end-user water,” Fuentes said.

“We have four plants proposed along our system. Each plant should produce approximately five million gallons of water per day, which is enough water for over 25,000 people in a given year, even in drought conditions.”

Fuentes added: “With our current water shortage, this is a much-needed project for our region and may eventually be a model of a new water resource throughout Texas and maybe even the United States. Now that the testing protocol has been approved by TCEQ, we can proceed to plant design and construction. We are currently in an application process for grants and funding sources to build our first plant. The reclamation project is a state-approved project in the TWDB Region M Water Plan.”

Editor’s Note: Click here Texas County Progress’ full feature on Hidalgo County. Commissioner David Fuentes. It includes his take on what constitutes a typical day for him at Precinct One.

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