EAGLE PASS, TX — Maverick County residents are raising alarms after Eagle Pass City Manager Homero Balderas issued a termination notice stating that Fire and EMS services outside city limits would end on November 1 if a new interlocal agreement is not finalized.

The announcement directly conflicts with public statements made just one day earlier by Maverick County Judge Ramsey English Cantú and Eagle Pass Mayor Aaron Valdez, who confirmed that both governments were moving forward on a new agreement. Photos and social media posts showed the Judge and Mayor meeting, with messages of unity and progress toward securing Fire and EMS coverage for all residents.

County families say the City Manager’s notice creates confusion and fear, suggesting that politics may be taking precedence over public safety. For rural areas including El Indio, Quemado, Normandy, and tribal lands, emergency services are essential, and the possibility of losing coverage has left residents unsettled.

“This is not something to play politics with,” said one county resident. “When someone’s house is on fire or there’s a medical emergency, every second counts. Why should our lives depend on whether city hall wants to negotiate in good faith?”

The City of Eagle Pass stated that without an agreement, all 911 calls outside the city will be forwarded to the Maverick County Sheriff’s Office. Residents argue this is not a real solution, noting that the Sheriff’s Office does not have the same capacity or equipment as Eagle Pass Fire and EMS.

The timing of the termination notice has further fueled public frustration. Hours before Balderas issued the notice, Judge Cantú released a letter reaffirming the county’s commitment to the agreement and announcing plans to present a proposal for new emergency equipment at the next Commissioners Court meeting.

Lives are on the line, and many are demanding clarity on why the City Manager would send out a notice that undermines public assurances of safety. The Maverick Times reached out to Balderas for comment on the matter, but as of the time of this publishing, he has not responded.

As the November 1 deadline approaches, Maverick County residents are left with one pressing question. Is City Manager Homero Balderas putting politics above the safety and protection of county families?