DOLLAR GENERAL FIRST NEW CHAIN STORE IN LYFORD IN 50 YEARS. City commissioners in Lyford have been troubled by the declining sales tax revenue this year. But with a new store opening in town they are hoping for the best. The company is also providing five new jobs, according to Mayor Henry de la Paz. The new store opens Sunday. Lyford city officials were happy Monday evening to learn that Dollar General will open in town on Sunday, Aug. 8.

The new store which sells a variety of groceries and misc. drygoods will be the first chain store to open in the community in more than 50 years.

Mayor Henry de la Paz believes that the new store signals the end of the decline in the community which once had a bank, a newspaper (Willacy County News) and a number of retail clothing stores and a grocery.

De la Paz said it is no accident that Dollar General decided to locate in Lyford. He called the company’s Memphis, Tennessee home office several times until he got a promise to visit Lyford.

As a result, the new store will serve the local residents and many will be able to buy what they need without driving to Raymondville, or Harlingen.

The store will have a soft opening Sunday and a grand opening later in the week. Fred Gonzales is the store manager and he will have five employees, De la Paz said.

IN OTHER BUSINESS:

Commissioners heard a report on the housing program funded by a $520,000 Texas Dept. of Housing & Community Affairs grant. Five new homes will be built and five existing homes will be remodeled to Section 8 standards.

City Secretary Lydia Moreno said the loans are “forgivable” meaning home owners will not have to make payments. Criteria to apply for the housing improvements include a clear deed to the property, with no back taxes owed and three years living in the home. Hilario Rincones is the general contractor.

Recently Lyford got a one million dollar grant and a three million dollar loan from the United States Dept. of Agriculture to expand the reservoir that holds city water, build a new water tower and a larger transmission line.

Melissa Rodriguez made a motion to transfer $6,000 from the capital improvement fund to pay ten percent of the $60,000 design phase of the project. The money was not budgeted and will be repaid from tax collections.

Her motion passed unanimously.

Pablo Morales’ motion to pay the final $6,343.50 due to the contractor and architects on the city hall construction project, also passed by a unanimous vote. Total cost of the project was $81,900 and the city hall looks great.

Bougambilia Construction was the general contractor and Idea Group did the planning.

A $5,200 electrical bid from Villarreal Electric was approved on a motion by Joey Mendoza, for the new water plant construction.

Help is on the way for Lyford residents suffering from mosquito bites. Public Works supervisor Harvey Lopez told commissioners the old mosquito fogger has died and he wants a new one. The city has been using a fogger borrowed from Pct. 3 County Commissioner Alfredo “Fred” Serrato.

Lopez recommended a “heavy duty” fogger which he expects to last for 12 or 15 years, at a cost of $10,100. The unit will sit in the back of a pickup and has a 2-year warranty. It sprays 2- plus-2 mosquito mist, Lopez said.

Mendoza’s motion to buy the machine passed unanimously.

The city secretary said Lyford will soon begin issuing warrants for people who ignore tickets for violating city traffic laws and ordinances. From January through June city judge Becky Sanchez has levied $13,400 in fines but the city has collected only $6,800.

Ms. Moreno reported that the city’s new appraisal values are $22 million for all taxable property in the community.

Present for the meeting were the mayor, city commissioners Mendoza, Morales, and Rodriguez and the city manager. Absent were commissioners Ramon Perez and Antonio Chavez.