Harlingen resident claims annexation was illegal

HARLINGEN - Recent annexation of land on the western edge of Harlingen was done illegally, a resident of the affected area claimed Wednesday during a City Commission meeting.

Charles Lee, of 15834 Palm Vista Drive, said city officials failed to comply with state law during the annexation process.

He received a water bill that included "several new charges that we never had before," Lee said.

A Nov. 20 letter welcoming neighborhood residents to the city failed to mention they have the right to continue with their existing trash collection service for another two years, and a Dec. 11 city letter instructed them to disregard the first letter, Lee said. However, most of his neighbors had already stopped service from private trash collectors believing they were being forced to use city services, he said.

Also, the new west side city residents were billed on Dec. 14 for garbage collection service they had not yet received, he said.

Private trash haulers may have a claim against the city for damages, he said.

Lee said he has researched state laws and is in the process of asking the Cameron County Commissioners Court Civil Legal Division to help him file court papers that could result in the area being de-annexed.

City officials should have appointed a five-member citizens panel to review the city's service plan for the area, Lee said.

Mayor Chris Boswell told Lee commissioners can only listen to his complaints during the "citizen communication" portion of the meeting, but could not respond.

But Commissioner Bobby Farris insisted the city had done the annexation legally.

In other business, commissioners:
* Approved a $454,406 contract with John Wright Associates Inc. for purchase of Panasonic mobile computers and in-car video systems for police patrol cars.

The Panasonic equipment cost $20,402 more than the bid from Motorola, Police Chief Daniel Castillo said.
Mayor Chris Boswell commended the chief for a thorough study of needed equipment, with the help of other Rio Grande Valley police departments.

The equipment will be paid for from the Special Investigations Fund (property forfeiture), the mayor said.
"The bad guys are paying for this," he said.

* Approved a $284,154 contract with Jones & Cook Stationers for furniture and equipment for the new police station. Commissioners said they are satisfied that a local vendor submitted a bid that was 48 percent lower than the original estimate.