DEL RIO, Texas – The Del Rio City Council is expected to take another vote on Tuesday, Oct. 27, on a $941,000 contract to rebuild the Buena Vista Pool, a deal that stalled two weeks ago over questions about a council member’s ties to the company.

The contract would hire Connected Home Solutions, doing business as Stella’s Pools, for design-build services on the Buena Vista Pool Rehabilitation Project. Councilman Randy Quinones is involved with the company and left council chambers before the item was discussed on Oct. 13. He did not take part in the debate or the vote.

Why the first vote failed

Councilman Leno Hernandez made the motion to approve the contract on Oct. 13, and it was seconded by Councilman J.P. Sanchez. Councilman LeRoy Briones also voted in favor. Mayor Al Arreola and Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez voted against it.

That made the vote 3-2, but a resolution needs at least four yes votes to pass. With Quinones out of the room and Councilwoman Elsa Reyes absent for medical reasons, there were not enough votes, and the item was sent back for a future meeting.

City Attorney Ana Markowski Smith told the council Quinones had followed all the correct laws, policies and procedures for a conflict of interest. Arreola said he did not know if the council had ever been asked to award a contract to a company owned by one of its own members, and he raised concerns about transparency and public trust.

The case for the contract

Supporters pointed to about $600,000 in savings compared with the project budget and said keeping public money with a local business helps the Del Rio economy. They also said the only other proposal would have cost much more and needed at least a year of design work.

City staff said the request for proposals was advertised twice, for about six weeks each time, and emailed to 15 possible contractors from Del Rio and other parts of Texas. Only two proposals came back. Staff said the city has started posting its bid notices on Facebook to reach more companies.

Buena Vista Pool is one of Del Rio’s public swimming pools. The rehabilitation project covers the assessment, design and construction work needed to bring the pool back into good shape for families.

The Maverick Times News will update this story after the council votes.

Read our earlier coverage: Del Rio City Manager Proposes $3 Million in Cuts to Address Budget Deficit