El Paso recycling success, museum historical marker dedication, city whistleblower settlement, EPCC holiday outreach
This is your weekly news roundup, which takes a quick look at some developments in government, politics, education, environment and other topics across El Paso.
El Paso Recycling Reaches Record-Low Contamination RateThe city of El Paso has recorded its lowest-ever recycling contamination rate, hitting 20.04% – a significant drop from the previous year's 25%, which is also the national average.
"We're thrilled by the community's commitment to cleaner recycling. El Paso is now a model for other cities thanks to the enthusiastic response to our Curbside Recycling Program's education and enforcement initiatives," Nick Ybarra, director of the city's Environmental Services Department, said in a news release.
LEARN MORE: El Paso aims to increase recycling, reduce contamination
The department launched its Curbside Recycling Program in 2007, and has expanded education and enforcement efforts in recent years to reduce the number of non-recyclable items ending up in blue bins.
Contaminated recycling costs the city about $100,000 annually due to the added expense of hauling non-recyclable materials from the privately-owned recycling plant to the city's landfill, the news release states.
Recycling tips:
: www.ElPasoTexas.gov/recycle . You can also download the free ESD Works for You App.
Historical Marker at International Museum to Honor El Paso CoupleA state historical marker at the International Museum of Art will honor the contributions of El Paso attorney and lawmaker William Ward Turney and his wife, Iva Guthrie, this weekend.
The El Paso County Historical Commission, in partnership with the museum, will hold a Texas Historical Marker dedication at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, at 1211 Montana Ave.
Born in Marshall, Texas, in 1861, Turney, a cattleman, married Guthrie in 1892 and the couple moved to El Paso. Turney served as a partner in the firm of Turney, Burges, Culwell and Pollard, representing oil, telephone and railway companies. He was elected to the Texas Legislature, serving in the House (1893-97) and Senate (1897- 1903), and was known for supporting legislation that helped ranchers' interests. He served as director of the El Paso branch of the federal reserve bank.
Designed by Trost & Trost in the classical revival style, the Turneys' home was built in the Arizona-Rio Grande district in 1906. It included five bedrooms upstairs and one large sitting room, a grand parlor, ballroom, dining room and kitchen on the main level.
Guthrie conveyed the home to the city of El Paso, and in 1947, the city leased the building to the international museum, where she served on the board of trustees. The museum was known as the El Paso Museum of Art from 1959 to 1998 when it moved Downtown. The building was redesignated the International Museum of Art in 2001.
: International Museum of Art
Whistleblower Lawsuit Settlement Gives City Auditor Pay RaiseThe city's recent settlement of a whistleblower lawsuit filed against it in December 2023 by longtime Chief Internal Auditor Edmundo Calderon included a $20,000 pay raise.
Calderon was making about $159,000 prior to the settlement, city documents show. His pay was increased to $185,000 on Oct. 6.
The settlement agreement was signed by Calderon and his attorney Laura Enriques on Sept. 9, according to documents obtained by El Paso Matters through the Texas Public Information Act. Court documents show the lawsuit was dismissed Oct. 29.
In the lawsuit, Calderon claimed retaliation following an audit of elected officials' use of taxpayer funded gas cards . The allegations included that he did not receive an employment contract as expected after the City Charter election last May placed oversight of the auditor under the City Council. The voter-approved charter changes made the auditor a hire of the council like that of the city attorney and city manager. Calderon was seeking an employment contract and monetary damages of at least $250,000, but not over $1 million. He has served in that role since 2005.
The settlement did not include language for a future employment contract, but did include a payment of about $1,000 to Enriquez for court costs.
The move to settle followed a motion by El Paso County Court at Law 6 Judge M. Sue Kurita that denied the city's plea to the jurisdiction hearing in September. The City Council aimed to settle the lawsuit a week before the hearing, but the hearing was held as scheduled.
EPCC Culinary Arts Students Prepare Turkeys for HOME ResidentsAbout 30 El Paso Community College culinary arts students helped prepare 11 turkeys this week for 185 elderly residents at the Muñoz, Hervey and Henderson communities that are part of the Housing Opportunity Management Enterprises (HOME).
The turkeys were delivered Nov. 13-15 for early Thanksgiving celebrations, said Chef Jesus Lugo, EPCC culinary arts coordinator. He said these kinds of projects enhance a student's education and nurtures the importance of giving back.
"We did this in the spirit of Thanksgiving," he said Nov. 13 after pouring some pan sauce over several aluminum roasting pans filled with sliced turkey. About 30 of his students helped with the preparation. "It's useful to demonstrate community service to students."
In a prepared statement, HOME CEO Gerald Chichon said that his organization was grateful to the generosity and dedication of the EPCC students.
"Their commitment to supporting our HOME communities during the holiday season is a wonderful example of the impact that partnerships can have on enhancing lives across El Paso," Chichon said.
