Council reappoints HEDC members

By Rosanne Fohn

Anvil Herald Reporter

In its short agenda Monday night, Hondo City Council reappointed two members of the Hondo Economic Development Corporation to two-year terms. Reappointed were Roger Hernandez, owner of Hondo Funeral Home, and Ashley Lowe, chief operating officer/chief ethics and compliance officer at Medina Healthcare System.

Council also discussed the possibility of drafting an ordinance regulating tree trimming, tree removal and vegetation management. 

Councilmen Porky Ytuarte and Brett Williams were concerned about a business owner along U.S. 90 who recently cut down a heritage oak. 

While both were in favor of regulating trees along major thoroughfares and on commercial property, Williams was adamant about homeowners having sole decision-making power over trees on their property. 

However, Michael McMann of DTR&G law firm, serving as the city’s attorney, noted that it would be beneficial to have an ordinance in place to prevent the spread of oak wilt.

In some cities, he said, residents cut oaks at the wrong time of year and do not paint the wounds to prevent spread of the disease. “That led to a spread of oak wilt and many trees had to be cut down because people were just cutting them and not doing any preventative work,” McMann said.

Councilman BJ McCollum added that an ordinance could protect trees on tracts bought by developers.

McMann said Uvalde has a good tree ordinance. He also will provide tree ordinances from other cities for the city’s consideration to get their input before writing an ordinance.

During Citizens to Be Heard, resident George Adams discussed the proposed Hondo city budget in light of two proposed police department positions. Instead of having an assistant police chief, he suggested that the position be divided between the proposed lieutenant and proposed sergeant positions. His other concern with the police department was that the latest active warrants list shown on the police department’s web page was dated June 2025 and is 95 pages long. 

In addition, he said that the city charter posted on the city’s website is out of date. Instead of the charter showing the amendments passed in the November 2025 election, the most recent city charter posted is from Nov. 3, 2020. 

“I participated in the Charter Review Commission. I took time off work to be in that commission, and it doesn’t look like it’s updated. While on the commission, Adams said he had requested that the budget hearing be held prior to the meeting that council votes on the proposed budget. “In past administrations (the hearing) was held on the same night as the budget vote. I didn’t feel that (council) would hear anyone that came to talk if (the hearing) wasn’t (held) before,” he said.

Speaking of the proposed 2026-27 Budget, the public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 14, in the city council chambers. The budget can be viewed online at https://www.hondo-tx.org/342/FY-2027-Proposed-Budget-Tax-Rate-Notices, or in person at the city administration building, 1101 16th Street during regular business hours.