Council approves $941,000 Buena Vista Pool contract on second try

By Sammy · Nov 3, 2026
sammy.delriopost@gmail.com

DEL RIO, Texas — The Del Rio City Council on Tuesday, Oct. 27, approved a $941,000 design-build contract to rehabilitate the Buena Vista Pool, two weeks after the same contract fell one vote short.

The resolution, R:2026-140, authorizes City Manager Manuel Chavez to award and execute the contract with Connected Home Solutions, doing business as Stella’s Pools, according to the meeting agenda. The vote was 4-2. Mayor Al Arreola and Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez voted no, and Mayor Pro Tem Randy Quiñones abstained, according to The 830 Times.

Before the item, City Secretary Mari Acosta said Quiñones had filed conflict-of-interest paperwork as required by state law. Quiñones said he has a “substantial interest” in the company and would not take part, The 830 Times reported.

At the Oct. 13 meeting, the contract got three votes in favor and two against. Measures need four votes to pass, The 830 Times reported.

The debate

Council members who supported the contract said the process was sound. One said the council had spent its closed session reviewing the item and that “this council is very deliberate on everything that we do and we’re doing our best to do everything by the book” (video, 00:45:50). Another said, “for me the decision comes down to facts, the process and the value that this project brings to our city,” and noted that the item had been put out for bidding twice (00:46:23).

A council member who raised concerns said due diligence had been done, including a review by an outside contracted attorney, and that there were cost savings and “not enough competitive bidders” (00:50:08–00:50:22). That member added: “I would have like to have defer awarding the contract until we had a written binding, a written legal opinion that all documents have been reviewed” (00:50:33), citing “transparency” for the community.

Before the vote, a council member said, “you vote your conscience… we vote how we think is the best interest to our community” (00:52:00).

During citizen comments, former Councilman Jesus Lopez Jr. questioned whether state law had been followed in awarding a contract to a company owned by a council member, The 830 Times reported. In the portion of his remarks that the transcript captured, he said that helping a council member’s business get the contract “is not right” and that the council member “should get his own legal opinion” (00:12:10).

What the pool project includes

According to the agenda packet, the council set aside $1.5 million in December 2025. The $941,000 estimate covers design, demolition of the pool floor, a new pool structure and deck, plumbing and filtration, a pavilion, ADA access, a slide, a diving board and spray fountains for the children’s pool, The Maverick Times reported.

Other actions

Following an executive session, the council voted 7-0 to approve City Manager Manuel Chavez’s contract and 7-0 to confirm Roxy Soto, a 12-year city employee, as finance director.

The council also voted 7-0 to abolish the Del Rio International Airport Commission, a citizen advisory board. Airport staff told the council the commission met six times in 2025 and three times in 2024 out of 12 scheduled meetings (01:12:28). City staff said the commission “hasn’t been fully working the way it was intended” and is not required (01:13:34). Former Councilman Lopez spoke against abolishing the commission during citizen comments, The 830 Times reported.

Other 7-0 votes:

A letter of intent to TxDOT for a federally required runway redesignation, changing Runway 13/31 to 14/32, estimated at $379,000 to $389,000, with the FAA paying 90%.
A roughly $143,248 reimbursable senior nutrition agreement covering about 46,000 meals a year.
Updates to city rules and fees on dangerous and aggressive dogs.

The council’s November meetings are Nov. 9 and Nov. 17.

Sources

Photo: Del Rio City Council during the Buena Vista Pool item, Oct. 27, 2026. Still from City of Del Rio meeting video.