City approves new MCRA arena

By Rosanne Fohn

Anvil Herald Reporter

The proposed Medina County Rodeo Arena would be constructed at the Fairgrounds, just south of the showbarn and Fair Hall.

After much discussion, Hondo City Council on Monday voiced support for a new arena and livestock handling facility to be built by the Medina County Rodeo Association. The MCRA’s current facility is in need of replacement after more than 40 years’ service, MCRA officials say. 

Deandra Muñoz, MCRA secretary, and Tina Upchurch, treasurer, gave the presentation, along with City Manager John Naron. The MCRA plans to conduct a fundraising drive to raise between $350,000 and $400,000 for the new facility, which would be built south of the Fair Hall at Hondo City Park No. 1. It would include a 57,750 square-foot main arena, eight stock pens, return alley, catch pen and roping stock pen.

Naron said the city had been considering the possibility of relocating the youth rodeo facility for several years and that the MCRA also wanted to upgrade its facilities.

“The facility is becoming nonoperational,” said Muñoz, adding, “The chutes are in bad shape and will not hold up much longer.”

Muñoz explained that the organization brings money into Hondo from not only the youth contestants, but also  their families through eating in local restaurants and local lodging. 

“One-hundred kids sign up for the fall (rodeo) series. They come from as far away as Cotulla, Del Rio and Uvalde, and this is bringing people to Hondo,” Muñoz said. Naron said that this could qualify the group for hotel occupancy tax funds. 

“The new facility would be able to host more events, including team roping and calf roping,” Upchurch said.

No funding – only support – was requested from the city; however, Naron suggested that the city consider building the bleachers and elevated press box, and installing the lights, which were not included in the MCRA’s bid. 

“The bleachers are something the city should be involved with because we do have some liability. And we’ve already done the lights for the soccer fields, and we’ve learned how to do this,” Naron said. He added that the city has done a lot to improve the playing fields for youth sports. This would be a way to support more youth that may not be in the usual team sports. 

  Council members said they were in favor of the MCRA’s fund-raising efforts for the project; however, Councilman Porky Ytuarte noted that the bleachers, press box and lights will be costly. He expressed support, provided that Medina County Commissioners Court be asked to contribute to the project, noting that the organization’s name includes “Medina County.” 

   “It’s not the Hondo Rodeo Association,” he said.

In other business

• Council approved the Hondo Regional Airport’s request to apply to the Texas Department of Transportation for a 90% reimbursement grant for drainage improvements to be completed around the 48 T-hangars, or buildings with T-shaped interior spaces in which individual single-engine planes can be stored. 

The airport budgeted $301,400 for the drainage project. When it is complete, the city is eligible to apply for 90% of the money to be refunded from TxDOT. If costs exceed the budgeted amount, the airport will use non-primary entitlement grant funds to cover the additional expenses, according to information provided by Ryan Elder, director of aviation.

• Council also authorized the city manager to execute a one-year renewal of its contract with TXN Bank as its depository institution. The city originally had a three-year contract with TXN with two one-year renewal options. This will be the second one-year renewal.

• Council also decided to hold its next meeting as scheduled during Thanksgiving week. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 23, in Council Chambers.