By Claudia Perez Rivas | Kingsville Independent News
KINGSVILLE — A court-ordered recall election and concerns over ongoing utility work took center stage Monday night as the Kingsville City Commission met for its Nov. 10 session.
All five commissioners were present for a meeting that touched on everything from street sweeping to neighborhood construction complaints — and ended with a heated exchange over the upcoming recall vote.
Street and Utility Work Updates
Kingsville City Manager Charlie Sosa reported that the 6th Street resurfacing project has been postponed until Jan. 5 and is expected to take about three weeks to complete. He said the Water Department remains busy repairing lines affected by ground shifting and coordinating with Lyte Fiber as the company installs new internet service lines.
Resident Voices Concerns Over Construction
During public comment, resident Elizabeth Ramos asked for better communication and accountability from Lyte Fiber and the city regarding the company’s work near her home.
“It doesn’t take much to communicate what’s going on,” Ramos said. “They’re digging 5- to 8-foot holes and leaving debris in my yard. I just want my property treated with respect.”
Street Sweeping Proposal
The city’s Street Department proposed creating a new position for a heavy equipment operator to handle street sweeping duties in-house. The position would cost about $65,999 annually and be funded through the street maintenance fund.
Public Works staff said the city’s former contractor, SCA, was unable to meet expectations. The company had been scheduled to sweep residential areas every three months, major roads monthly, and downtown twice a week, but fell short of those goals.
Mayor Sam Fugate asked for clarification on the contract, which had cost $172,000 per year. Officials said less than $100,000 was paid out last year due to missed work. The city owns a 2018 street sweeper and may shift to using it internally. The discussion was an introduction item, and no action was taken.
Recall Election Ordered for May 2026
The most debated item of the night came when the commission voted to call a special recall election on May 2, 2026, following a district court order involving three commissioners: Norma Alvarez, Leo Alarcon, and Hector Hinojosa.
Commissioner Alvarez said her vote in favor was to comply with the ruling, not an admission of wrongdoing.
“While I respect the process and the outcomes, I must clarify that I do not agree with the allegations made against me,” she said.
Commissioner Alarcon called the recall effort “internal,” saying it was driven by personal conflicts rather than community action.
“This was not a community effort; this was internal,” he said. “All this media attention and hoopla — it’s all right here in this city.”
Commissioner Hinojosa said he disagreed with the judge’s order but would follow the law.
Commissioner Lopez denied involvement in the petition process, clarifying that her daughter-in-law had initially started but did not complete the recall paperwork.
“It was not my doing,” Lopez said. “It was his [Alarcon’s] goddaughter who got the petition going.”
The May 2, 2026, special election will proceed as ordered by the court.
Looking Ahead
The next regular meeting of the Kingsville City Commission is scheduled for Nov. 24.