Following a brief executive session Tuesday evening Raymondville city commissioners agreed to settle a lawsuit filed against the city by a former police officer.

Rene De La Fuente was a patrolman when he was injured while on duty by an individual he was attempting to arrest. A female officer was also hurt in the same incident and both were offered leave time by the police chief.

De La Fuente maintained in his lawsuit that he was fired because of a handicap which involves limited use of one of his arms, a condition that existed when he was hired by the department.

City Attorney William "Bill" Wepfer explained that the city's position is that De La Fuente failed to return to duty after his leave of absence ended.

The city agreed to pay De La Fuente $30,000 rather than going to trial which would have been more expensive, Wepfer said. The city is not making any admission of wrongdoing, Wepfer added.

The settlement was recommended by the city's insurance carrier, Texas Municipal League (TML) and they will pay $27,000 of the $30,000 award leaving the city to pay the balance, $3,000.

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

The city has secured a loan of more than one million dollars to improve the city's fresh water treatment plant through expansion. Commissioners agreed Tuesday to guarantee the loan with Certificates of obligation although the no interest loan will be repaid through revenue from water and sewer operations. The loan came from the Texas Water Development Board.

The city will apply for a $50,000 grant for police overtime pay, from the governor's Criminal Justice Division.

The city will also apply for a $50,000 grant from the office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division. The money will be used to provide drug and alcohol counseling for teen gang members.

Electrical Contractor CAS Companies LP was approved to do business in the city after posting bond.

A committe will be formed to consider ways to finance a Skateboard Park in the city. Commissioners have been talking about building such a park since 1984 and nothing has happened. Total cost of the skateboard park is estimated to be $50,000 and the city has $20,000 of that amount.

City Manager Eleazar "Yogi" Garcia reported that $792,214 in city advalorem taxes have been collected this fiscal year, that is 76 percent of the tax levy.

Commissioner Yolanda Alexandre said that she has observed motorists speeding in school zones and police chief Uvaldo Zamora promised to increase police presence.

Public Works Dept. director Joel Soto plans to resume repairing potholes now that rain is ending. He also said that city water plant will be inspected by the State on Thursday and he is expecting a good report, similar to last year.

The city manager and two commissioners will attend a four day Hurricane training event at Texas A&M - College Station, in April. The cost will be paid for by the State.

Police Chief Zamora reported that a Police SWAT team served two warrants and made three arrests as the result of a Saturday morning stabbing on the north side. The suspects are in county jail.

Finally, Municipal Court Judge Armin Martinez reported a total of $14,211.76 was collected in fines for violations of city ordinances during February. Martinez said he is also fining those who fail to appear in his court up to $324.00, a violation that had not recently been prosecuted.