City manager Eleazar "Yogi" Garcia told commissioners last night that the city posted its first retail sales tax collection increase in several months, in June.

Garcia said the city received a check from the Texas Comptroller's office for $96,000, up from $89,000 for the same month last year, a 7.68 % gain.

Raymondville retailers and service providers collect a tax on most sales and the state refunds the money monthly. For the first 10 months of the fiscal year retail sales in the city have been in a slump as they have in most Texas cities.

In other business:

Local retiree Victor Vasquez complained of illegal dumping in the community, weedy lots and abandoned houses.

Vasquez said the city "should hit 'em in the pocketbook” for violations of city ordinances.

"Corporations are not going to come down here (relocate) when they see the mess we have. Let 'em tell it to the judge. You need to issue tickets for violations."

Wastewater collection problems are continuing in parts of the city where a high water table has put some of the lift stations under water. Bubbling manholes signify the problems caused by an 11 -inch rain over the past few weeks.

Public Works director Joel Soto said that the pumps have been running all the time and that two pumps have burned out. The city is waiting for parts to come from Houston and have rented pumps in the meanwhile.

Garcia said that during the storm, "we were treating four million gallons of wastewater a day, although we are only certified to treat 1.5 million gallons."

The city will use $100,000 in grant funds to identify leaks in the system where ground water is invading the sewer system, by blowing smoke into the pipes and watching to see where it comes out.

"Maybe instead of enlarging our wastewater plant we need to improve drainage by the system, and by replacing lift stations that have burned out."

Garcia identified one major problem as the lift station on 16th Street which handles water that comes from as far away as the Willacy Housing Authority and the North Star Apartments.

No action was taken. Commissioners waived the Smiley park pavilion fee for CASA for their annual Christmas in August promotion on August 13. Permission was also given for the organization to collect money on downtown street corners.

Resignation of Robert Ruiz, city meter reader, was accepted.

Xavier Garcia was given a pay raise after passing an exam for a wasterwater collection license.

A full time maintenance worker was approved for the city's new Rural Technology Building on FM3168.

The city's new wireless cameras will soon arrive and be installed to keep an eye on city hall, the police station, Smiley Little League Park and the Rural Technology Center.

Garcia said the city is getting $200,000 worth of cameras for $89,000 and they will be the first remote cameras of their type in Texas, with a five mile scan radius.

Under city bills commissioners approved $66,000 for the Motorola dispatch system to be installed at the police dept. The 800 megahertz system will enable the city to use the new police radios they recently received.

Commissioners also okayed payment of $9,592.77 for desks and furniture for the meeting room in the front of the Rural Technology Center.

Finally travel for city manager Garcia to San Antonio on August 19 and 20 was approved.