Residents raise concerns over taxes, library services and development as council advances EMS contract

Editor’s note: Some Edinburg City Council meeting cover a wide range of topics. In order to provide the best coverage for Edinburg residents, The Edinburg Advocate develops multiple stories. We will post the subsequent stories here.

Edinburg News, Edinburg TX News, public comments, EMS contract

Arnoldo Mata

Edinburg, TX – Public concerns over taxes, bond debt, public library services, development standards and access to transportation dominated the Edinburg City Council’s Feb. 19 meeting, where the council also voted to advance a new emergency medical services contract for negotiation.

Six residents addressed the council during public comment, followed by discussion and action on a request for proposals for EMS services with a mobile intensive care unit.

Public concerns span taxes, variances and transit access

A woman only identifying herself as Jacqueline and as a Republican precinct chair, encouraged residents to participate in early voting and to support propositions on the Republican primary ballot.

Fern McClarty focused her remarks on property taxes, bonds and development standards. “Officials are going to sell bonds and our taxes are going to increase,” McClarty said. She cited the city’s annual bond payments, stating, “Do you know that the city pays about $9 million a year? Outstanding bonds. … We pay $9 million and get nothing.”

McClarty questioned why the city does not prioritize paying down debt before taking on additional obligations and criticized recent water rate increases. She also raised concerns about development variances.

“Why do we have rules if y’all are going to turn around at each meeting and say, ‘Oh, we need to help them make a little more money,’” she said. “Why make them if you’re not going to abide by them?”

McClarty later spoke in support of Med Care EMS and South Texas Health System, describing her husband’s emergency care experience. “That ambulance was waiting at the hospital to take my husband to the heart hospital and they immediately did surgery,” she said. “I am so thankful for the heart hospital and I’m very thankful for Med Care.”

Ricardo Gomez asked the council to consider adding bus routes to connect residents to indigent health care services, SNAP and workforce offices, which he said are located far apart.

“I just think it’s pertinent that as we grow … we recognize the need for this,” Gomez said, noting that some residents with disabilities or health issues struggle to travel long distances on foot.

Diane Teeter addressed prior suggestions that the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley library could serve in place of a public library.

“A university library is built for faculty research and student coursework,” Teeter said. “It does not offer children’s story time, teen spaces, bilingual family programming, or open computer access for job seekers.”

Teeter cited standards from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission and the American Library Association, stating that a city of more than 100,000 residents “should have a fully resourced, modern public library with adequate space, staffing, technology and programming.”

Obed Montoya spoke to the Council to thank two city employees. “ Gabriel Espinoza. He did the fire hydrant inspection in my neighborhood. Done good. And the second one is Larry Vela. He put that LED light there. It lights up the whole neighborhood. From my neighborhood to you all, you done good.”

EMS contract advances to negotiation stage

The council later considered awarding RFP 2026-006 for emergency medical services with a mobile intensive care unit.

A representative for the company, identified only as Daniel, who spoke during public comment in support of the current provider, thanked the city for conducting what he described as a “thorough and transparent RFP.”

“Over the past year, we’ve worked intentionally to demonstrate stability, accountability and measurable performance,” he said. “Serving the city of Edinburg isn’t just a contract for us. It’s our responsibility.”

He highlighted advancements such as carrying whole blood in the field, video laryngoscopes and dispatch-assisted medical care.

The council voted to award the RFP to Med Care EMS, identified as the highest-ranking proposal, and authorized the city manager to negotiate an agreement. The final contract will return to the council for approval.

City staff confirmed that no final agreement is yet in place and that negotiations will proceed before a completed contract is brought back to the council.

Board appointments

At the conclusion of the meeting, the council made appointments to city boards.vThe council appointed Mario Reyna Sr., Victor Danyet, Greg Vasquez, Eliseo Garza, Rudy Ramirez and Ruby Casas to the Planning and Zoning Commission.

The meeting adjourned after the council approved actions discussed in executive session related to a real property matter and an economic development agreement identified as “Project Happy Gilmore.”