Eagle Pass City Council To Weigh Bid For New Pentagon Base At Wednesday Special Meeting

EAGLE PASS, Texas – The Eagle Pass City Council will consider a resolution Wednesday asking that Eagle Pass be considered as a site for the Department of War’s proposed next-generation military installation, according to the posted agenda.

The resolution would also ask federal and state officials to support and advocate for the city’s bid, according to the agenda. The special meeting starts at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in Council Chambers at City Hall, 100 S. Monroe St. The city said the meeting will be livestreamed on its Facebook page. The council’s regular meeting set for Tuesday, Nov. 3, Election Day, was canceled, according to a city notice.

What the Pentagon is looking for

The Department of War is running a national competition for what it calls the Next Great American Base, the first new domestic base in decades, according to the department’s fact sheet. “We have not built a new base in this country in 40 years. That ends now!” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said, according to the fact sheet.

• Eligible locations: the continental United States
• Recommended footprint: 100,000 to 250,000 contiguous acres
• Estimated population: 15,000 to 25,000 active-duty members
• Nomination deadline: Dec. 1, 2026
• Anticipated selection: June 2027

The agenda does not say what land the city would offer or how a bid would meet the acreage guidance.

Possible lawsuit over the Mallen gym design

In closed session, the council will discuss potential litigation against Davis Powell Architecture over alleged deficient design work on the Mallen gym project, including possible claims and legal strategy, according to the agenda. Any action would be taken in open session.

In open session, the council will consider a change order with a net deduction of $27,433.10 and a final payment of $220,417.34 to Frontera Construction LLC for the Alfonso Mallen Gymnasium Project. A second reading of an ordinance adding a fee schedule for private use of the Alfonso Mallen Recreation Center is on the consent agenda.

Other items on the agenda

• State loan agreement: a resolution authorizing a State Infrastructure Bank loan agreement and letting the city manager act on the city’s behalf. Last week the Texas Transportation Commission approved a loan of up to $15 million from the bank for Patsy Winn Boulevard.
• Riskind Building bar: an application for Lease Space No. 1 at the Riskind Building for a Despecho Karaokee Bar, as proposed by an evaluation panel.
• Phone service: moving city cellular service from AT and T FirstNet to T-Mobile through a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing contract.
• Federal lobbying: a contract with Normandy Group for federal lobbying and government relations services.
• Project Hummingbird: a closed-session discussion of a proposed Chapter 380 economic development agreement with private investors.
• Ambulance grant: ratifying a Rural Ambulance Service Grant Program subagreement with Maverick County so the city can provide ground ambulance service on the county’s behalf.
• Fire equipment: declaring 30 Scott SCBA air packs, 48 air cylinders, 64 masks, two rapid intervention packs and two Zoll cardiac monitors surplus for trade-in.
• Budget and investments: a budget amendment using Series 2018 certificates of obligation and parkland dedication funds, CDBG public infrastructure projects, quarterly investment reports and an updated investment policy.
• Recognition: the retirement of Demetrio Chavarria after 27 years with the city.

Read our earlier coverage: Eagle Pass Gets 15 Million State Loan To Rebuild And Extend Patsy Winn Boulevard

Sources: City of Eagle Pass City Council Special Meeting agenda, Nov. 4 | Department of War Next Great American Base fact sheet | City of Eagle Pass Facebook page

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