Last night my staff and I were out in Tornillo to help with the situation that is affecting many families in Tornillo. If you have any relatives that live in Tornillo, please pass this information along to them. Thank you!
**URGENT MESSAGE FROM TORNILLO WATER IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT**
April 21, 2015
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Francelia Vega, 915.799.1034
TORNILLO WATER DISTRICT EXPERIENCING CRITICAL WATER WELL OUTAGE
SEVERAL LOCAL AGENCIES WORKING TO ASSIST RESIDENTS WITHOUT WATER SERVICE
TORNILLO, TX— The Tornillo Water District is currently experiencing a critical water well outage, potentially affecting approximately 3,000 customers. The outage is due to a mechanical malfunction of one of the two major wells that service Tornillo customers. The water well will undergo repairs beginning tomorrow morning until water service is restored. Tornillo residents are asked to limit their water use and utilize water service for only basic needs.
The El Paso City-County Office of Emergency Management has coordinated emergency services for residents with various local agencies including the Sheriff’s Office, the El Paso Water Utility, the Lower Valley Water District, the Red Cross, the Emergency Service District #2 (that provides fire protection in the area), the County of El Paso, the Office of County Commissioner Vince Perez, the Colonia Initiatives Program from the Texas Secretary of State’s Office, the Tornillo Independent School District, the Fabens Independent School District, the El Paso Water Improvement District #1, in addition to the Tornillo Water District.
Currently, the El Paso Water Utility is providing Tornillo residents with access to drinking water at the Tornillo ISD Administration Building (19200 Cobb Street)—residents must bring their own containers and will be limited to 5 gallons of water per household, per day (24 hours a day). The Red Cross is also establishing a comfort shelter for residents that will have portable showers, restrooms, and drinking water located at Amador Field House at the Fabens High School Football Field (NE G Ave and 3rd Street in Fabens). The comfort shelter will open at 7:00 am, tomorrow April 22, 2015. The Red Cross comfort center will operate from 7:00am to 12:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
The County of El Paso will also offer shuttle service for Tornillo residents who are in need of transportation service to the Red Cross comfort center. The shuttle service will begin tomorrow at 10:00am to 12:00pm and 5:00pm to 9:00pm.
Thursday and Friday (if still necessary), the shuttle service will begin at 8:00 am. The shuttle will leave the Tornillo ISD Administration Building at the top of every hour (8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am 11:00am 12:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:00pm) and leave the Red Cross comfort center at every half hour mark (8:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 11:30am, 5:30pm, 6:30pm, 7:30pm, 8:30pm)
Residents can contact the Tornillo Water Improvement District for more information and critical updates at 915-764-2966 or 19225 Highland Street, Tornillo, TX 79853.
Media Stories
Upwards of 3,000 Tornillo Residents Coping with Water Crisis (KTSM)
Resources Available to Help Tornillo Residents Without Water (KVIA)
Sin Agua Residents de Tornillo (Telemundo)
On April 2, 2015 Commissioner Perez announced that Miguel Fernandez will be his nominee to the University Medical Center Board of Managers. Today the full Commissioners Court approved his nominee. Appointing members to the UMC Board of Managers is one of the most important responsibilities of the County Judge and Commissioners. The board oversees an annual operating budget of nearly $530 million. Local property tax payers contribute approximately $85 million to fund University Medical Center (approximately 16% of the hospital’s operating budget). Board members receive no financial compensation for their service and serve three-year terms and may be reappointed.
Mr. Fernandez is a native El Pasoan and for nearly 15 years has served as President and CEO of Transtelco, a binational telecommunications carrier. In 2006, he also founded a real estate company dedicated to developing and revitalizing properties in the El Paso community. In 2009, he was inducted in to the El Paso Chamber Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Technology Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the technology field in El Paso. He earned his degree in business administration with a concentration in finance from the University of Texas at El Paso.
“Mr. Fernandez’s experience in business, finance and project development will be a tremendous asset to the University Medical Center Board of Managers,” Perez said. “He is a successful and innovative entrepreneur, who is passionate about our region’s future and understands the vital role of public health care in our community. He has invested his time, energy, and resources to making El Paso a better place. I appreciate his willingness to serve the community in this capacity.”
Mr. Fernandez has an extensive background in serving the region through various leadership positions. In 2011, Mr. Fernandez began serving on the Medical Center of the Americans Board of Directors, an organization dedicated to the advancement and development of the MCA campus and the Paso del Norte Region’s biomedical initiatives. He also previously served on the City of El Paso Planning Commission.
Commissioner Perez to Nominate Businessman Miguel Fernandez to UMC Board (EP Times)
El Paso County Commissioners Announce 2 Nominees for UMC Board of Managers (KVIA)
Comisionados dan a Conocer Dos Nominados Para Integrar la Mesa Directivea del UMC (El Diario)