City Commissioners agreed to close off intersections on Hidalgo Ave. and on South 7th St. for the annual Christmas Parade, Friday, Dec. 5 in the downtown area.

The parade will proceed east on Hidalgo Ave. and turn South on 7th Street, requiring several interections to be closed for up to three hours.

Construction could begin as early as January on the $1.5 million University of Texas at Brownsville building project on FM3168 in Raymondville. The site is across the street from the high school. When completed in fall, 2009 the facility will house the UTB long distance learning campus, the Chamber of Commerce, the Economic Development Center, Workforce Solutions and business incub- ators.

Joe Munoz, engineer with Guzman & Munoz Engineering reported on the project status, it is financed through EDA and HUD grants.

Commissioners heard about plans for a Fast Pitch League to begin play at the old Pony League Park next to L.C. Smith Elementary School at their regular meeting Tuesday.

Lupe Ruiz representing Texas Fast Pitch League told city leaders that of 250 kids playing in the Sebastian Pony League, at least half live in Raymondville.

Ruiz wants the old Pony League Park repaired with lights, and new fences.

Commissioner Mary Gutierrez expressed doubts about the idea of competing Pony League play in Raymondville, saying that it could hurt the Sebastian program.

City Manager Eleazar "Yogi" Garcia told Ruiz that the land at the park is owned by the Raymondville ISD and "you gotta own the land in order to apply for grants. Maybe the schools would give the land to the city."

Last year 250 kids participated in the Sebastian Ponly League while 400 kids played Little League ball in Raymondville.

Ruiz said his group is also working on a winter football program.

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

City Manager Garcia announced that the city will get $287,597 in grant funds from ORCA under the "gentlemen's agreement" where all participants share equally from the master grant. The money will be used for water and sewer improvements. Edgar Rodriguez is resigning from the city water department to go back to his old job at MTC the private prison operator.

The city will purchase a new pickup for the Public Works dept. from a local dealer, without advertising Garcia said.

City bills were approved including one for $199,999.89 from Allied Waste Company for hurricane cleanup. The city will be reimburesed $242,000 from FEMA to compensate for the cost.

Chief of Police Uvaldo Zamora advises home owners to be especially careful during the holiday season to protect their homes and vehicles from burglary.

"We are getting increasing reports of lawn mowers and Weedeaters being stolen. Most of these items are being left outside on driveways and carports and thieves are walking off with them," he said.

Raymondville has a juvenile curfew from 10 p.m. on weekdays and begining at midnight on weekends but the city has only three patrol cars on duty at night and only one during the day.

Zamora said citizens can call police if they need special attention paid to their property when they are out of town.

Public works director Ventura Nieto reported that the city street sweeper is working again after repairs were made.