City OKs paving but homeowners fear costs
By SHANNON CRABTREE newsdesk@leader-news.com

With members of the community bemoaning the expense, yet calling for the health and property benefits of paving, the El Campo City Council voted Tuesday to move forward on the blacktopping of four roads and an alleyway.

There are only 6 miles of roads in the city of El Campo's 106 mile street system that remain unpaved. Tuesday's vote allows street paving to proceed on Beach, Palm, Highland and Delta streets as well as an alley between Empire and College streets.

All city roads should be paved, City Councilwoman Gloria Harris said, adding she continues to support the paving project begun almost 20 years ago. Under city ordinances, landowners on either side of a roadway pay one-third of the cost of initial paving with the remaining balance coming from municipal funds. After the initial paving, the city takes on all costs of maintaining the roadways.

The cost is what concerned Cedrico Rubio and David Barosh as they spoke against the projects Tuesday.

"I work hard all my life. I have to pay almost $1,000. I make $7 an hour and have two children and a wife," Rubio said, "Can I have a chance to pay in payments or something? I'd like to fix the street, but I don't make much money."

Barosh's father lives on one of the streets to be paved.

"He's on a very fixed income. We have to help him with his utilities as it is," Barosh said. "He can't afford these expenses nor can we because we're already helping with living expenses."

Payments can be made monthly or quarterly, City Manager John Steelman said. "And nothing happens to you if you don't pay. It's not like you're not going to be able to buy groceries, pay the rent or make payments."

Failure to pay the street paving fees results in a lien being placed on the property.

James and Darlene Pendleton called for the alleyway and streets to be paved saying it is a health issue for them.

A note from James Pendleton's doctor was read stating his respiratory issues and the positive effect paving would have.

"We have to work for the betterment of El Campo," Harris said making the motion to proceed with paving. The issue passed unanimously.