Residents quiz DeReus on homelessness, water rates, street paving, theater

At the Del Rio Civic Center, residents used Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus’s town hall to press city leaders on the issues that hit home fastest: help for people experiencing homelessness, water rates, street paving, city finances, the second international bridge and the future of the Paul Poag Theatre.

The meeting carried added weight because it was DeReus’s last as the District II representative on the Del Rio City Council. DeReus was first elected to the council on June 23, 2018, and the Texas Municipal League lists him as Del Rio’s mayor pro tem for District II. His exit comes as the city heads toward the May 2, 2026 general election, which will decide the mayor, District 1, District 2 and At-Large Place C seats after filing ran from Jan. 14 through Feb. 13, 2026.

Homelessness drew attention because it remains one of the city’s most visible daily pressures. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development describes point-in-time counts as a one-night snapshot of sheltered and unsheltered homelessness, a reminder that the issue is measured in fragments even as residents encounter it in real time around downtown and public spaces. In Del Rio, that concern is tied to a patchwork of local assistance rather than a large centralized system, which is why people keep pushing for clearer, faster help.

Water bills and city finances also stayed front and center. Del Rio held a public hearing on water and wastewater rate increases on Dec. 12, 2025, and the new rates took effect Jan. 1, 2026. For households and businesses already balancing rising costs, the rates have become part of the broader conversation about what the city can afford to repair, maintain and expand.

The bridge question stayed in the background, but not for long. The City of Del Rio says its existing international bridge is city-owned and carries vehicular, commercial and pedestrian traffic to Ciudad Acuña, Coahuila, Mexico. City council records show the second bridge remained an active policy issue late last year and into 2026, including a Dec. 30, 2025 vote to fund an updated traffic study tied to the presidential-permit application. That makes mobility and cross-border capacity part of the same debate as basic city services.

Residents also wanted answers on the Paul Poag Theatre, one of Del Rio’s best-known civic properties at 746 S. Main St. City records say the building, formerly the Rita Theater, was constructed in 1931 and has 4,997 square feet. It was donated to the city by John and Evelyn Prude in memory of Paul Poag, and city bid documents show the rehabilitation project reached Phase III in 2026, with bids due April 24, 2026. For a city where culture, downtown identity and infrastructure often overlap, that project remains a visible test of Del Rio’s priorities.