The Government Collectors Association of Texas presented on May 20, 2009, the Collector of the Year Award to Ana De Luna for having had the greatest impact on collections and the collections effort for their city or county in the past year. The county & district clerk’s office congratulates Mrs. De Luna for her achievement and applauds the entire Collections Department staff for their time and commitment to excellence. The Hidalgo County Collections Department also received the Excellence in Service Award, which is presented to programs selected for unselfishly providing assistance to others embodying the elements of dedication, commitment and service to the association and its membership. [Additional info...]

The public is welcome to submit pictures of friends or family members on active duty, which will be displayed on the Wall of Pride of Hidalgo County located inside our office. [Additional info...]

Texas County and District Retirement System features Judge Salinas, a.k.a. "The Blogging Judge of South Texas," in their newsletter. Read the Article >>

The RGV Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, more than 200 members strong, today named Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas III the “Public Elected Official of the Year.”

“From a social worker’s standpoint, he’s made a difference in the community,” said Rebecca Ramirez, NASW Texas Chapter RGV Branch Chair. “Our criteria are to honor somebody who stands up for the civil rights of those in need.”

The group didn’t have a hard time choosing Judge Salinas, she said. His compassion toward the uninsured and granting access to health care, his outcries against the border fence and his vested interest in “the little guy,” are readily apparent. He was the obvious choice as a leader for our community, Ramirez said.

Judge Salinas was honored along with Tim Smith, Media Representative of the Year, for his work with Tim’s Coats; Public Citizen of the Year Amelia Molina; Social Work Student of the Year Eileen Palacios; and Social Worker of the Year Candice Guillen.

“When you elected me to be your County Judge, I vowed to be there full time. And I am surprised today, because I am being honored for just doing my job. But we have a team of professionals that work hard for you every day, so I accept the award for my staff and for the Commissioners’ Court. We serve full time for you,” Judge Salinas said.

Judge Salinas penned a column about the lessons of Hurricane Dolly and how others can apply them to problem solving in county administration. The magazine also featured a photography spread of the county's recovery efforts during the aftermath of Hurricane Dolly. Cameron County Judge Carlos H. Cascos and Willacy County Judge-Pro Tem Emilio Vera Jr. are also featured. "We've moved away from a one-county perspective and have begun to think of ourselves as a region," Salinas said regarding emergency response. Link to Column >>

Read the latest isssue of the Hidalgo County Information Technology Department's Quarterly Newsletter. More >>

Show off your photography skills and enter Hidalgo County's Photography Contest. More >>

Hidalgo County is one of 13 counties around the state being honored this year by the Texas Association of Counties Leadership Foundation for Best Practices involving innovative programs that deliver quality services and protect taxpayer dollars.
The programs were selected to receive high honors for innovation, achievement and delivery of service in the 2009 County Best Practice Awards, which recognize county initiatives that serve as a model to others and save taxpayer monies.
"People in counties across Texas are coming up with such creative solutions," said TAC past president and current Brazos County District Clerk Marc Hamlin. "Counties have so few streams of revenue, and every good idea that can be shared is terribly important."
Hidalgo County received two prestigious Best Practices awards.
The first award was for achievement in community improvement for the county's effort in working with state and federal decision makers to renovate its levee system as part of the federal border fence project.
"It was not an easy thing to do," the selection committee said. "The (border fence) was horribly controversial for the residents, but (county officials) turned it around."
The second award honors Hidalgo and Cameron counties for delivery of services in health and human services for the Deaf Link program, which uses local TV stations to provide 140,000 (10 percent of the population in this media market) deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with emergency alerts in American Sign Language. These two counties spearheaded a national precedent and worked collaboratively with the private sector and other government agencies for this important service.
The awards were presented on Sept. 22, 2009, in Hidalgo County's Commissioners Court. Representing TAC was Field Services representatives Mary Ann Saenz.
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Pct. 2 Multi-Purpose Center and Park to Celebrates Grand Opening

Pct. 2 Commissioner Hector “Tito” Palacios recently celebrated the grand opening of the Hidalgo County Pct. 2 Multi-purpose Center and Park. Local families, community leaders, and local and state entities gathered to kick-off the center’s official opening, hosting a variety of activities throughout the day.

The center and park, located at 1429 South Tower Road, in Alamo, was developed as a one-stop shop offering quality county services, amenities such as community meeting rooms and a fully handicapped-accessible park suited for a variety of outdoor recreational activities. The 11,000 square foot center and surrounding park will surely improve the quality of life for county residents living in Pct. 2.

“High quality parks and recreation opportunities in a community really enhance quality of life,” Commissioner Palacios said. “We believe that parks allow children to experience new activities, stay safe and out of trouble and encourage families to lead healthy lifestyles.”

This is the second multi-purpose center and park built in Pct. 2. The other, located on Earling Road (Nolana) and Raul Longoria features an award-winning outdoor garden recognized by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as a Best Backyard Habitat. Building upon success, Commissioner Palacios worked with Barbara Storz, extension horticulturalist with Texas AgriLife Extension, to carefully plan the Alamo Park to also feature many of the same native trees and plants. From beautiful Ebony, Fiddlewood, Anacahuita (Mexican Olive) trees to colorful jasmine and lantana shrubs and flowers, the Hidalgo County Precinct 2 Park offer a rich mix of landscape. The City of McAllen contributed to the lush scenery by donating compost and mulch material for the flower beds and recreational sites.

The park surrounding the multi-purpose center, which houses satellite county offices, meeting rooms, WIC offices and a site for patrolling Sheriff’s deputies to meet with residents, is fully handicapped accessible and features the following amenities:

• Three lighted soccer fields
• One regulation basketball court
• Restroom facilities
• Three 40-foot diameter shelters
• Four playscapes
• Numerous picnic tables and barbecue pits
• 9,000 linear-foot walking trail
• 40x60 ft. lighted pavilion
• Solar energy powered lighting

“The completion of the Pct. 2 Multipurpose Center and Park is a great accomplishment and a wonderful addition to the Hidalgo County parks system,” said Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas III.

The facility and park are the culmination of the hard work of a variety of entities, extensive input from community advocates and residents, as well as the professional expertise and professional guidance from the project’s two lead consultants — Gutierrez Engineering and VA Architecture.

“A good park system does not occur randomly, but rather, requires a series of orderly steps and extensive planning. It also responds to the interests of all the citizens it serves and not just the needs of a few. My hope is that the park will instill a strong sense of pride in the residents of this community,” Commissioner Palacios said.

June 1 officially begins the start of the 2009 Hurricane Season, and with that, the National Weather Service has released its 2009 Texas Hurricane Guide to help residents prepare. Get the Guide >>