Val Verde County Commissioners Mark Mental Health Month, Review Flood Projects

Val Verde County’s mental-health network showed sharp growth in Del Rio even as commissioners left unresolved questions about public defender payments that could affect county costs and court operations. Alejandra Garcia of West Texas Counseling and Guidance told the court the nonprofit had gone from one full-time counselor and 31 clients when it opened in 2018 to 514 clients and 5,289 counseling sessions in 2025.

Garcia also told commissioners that grants are available to help residents pay for therapy, and she directed people to the organization’s Del Rio office at 906 E. 11th St. The court then approved a county proclamation marking May 2026 as Mental Health Awareness Month, with Rachel Cedillo, director of the local mental health clinic, reading the proclamation.

The same meeting put the county’s indigent-defense system under a brighter spotlight. Commissioners discussed the public defender program but took no action after Judge Lewis G. Owens Jr. raised questions about payments tied to the office. The lack of a decision leaves open questions about how the county will handle legal expenses for people who cannot afford counsel, a matter that can ripple into court scheduling and the county budget.

Flood control planning also remained in motion but not yet locked down. Commissioners postponed a decision on a list of flood-mitigation sites for each precinct, saying the county still has time to assemble the projects and strengthen its chances of scoring grant money. The delay keeps the projects in play while county leaders try to improve their funding prospects.

Beyond the major policy items, the court handled a series of smaller but still practical actions for residents. Commissioners considered a donation to Val Verde Regional Medical Center’s cancer center, allowed the Del Rio Mental Health Group to use the Tony Faz County Annex for monthly committee meetings, and approved space for the Del Rio High School Eco-Action Club and the Texas Department of State Health Services to use the annex for planting and gardening activities. They also approved six LED streetlights and related equipment on Cienegas Road to improve safety.

The agenda further included discussion of authorizing the Migrant Clinicians Network to use office space at the Val Verde Community Center, along with Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez’s request for authority tied to the 2027 Operation Lone Star Warrants Program. With health care, public safety, and infrastructure all moving at once, the court’s decisions showed a county trying to press several fronts forward without losing sight of immediate local needs.