Mercedes panel OKs newest alternate judge

MERCEDES - Juan Ramon Alvarez is the city's newest alternate municipal court judge, the City Commission voted this week.

Alvarez, a Mercedes resident whose resumé includes work with the Hidalgo County District Attorney's Office, was approved as the new judge with a 3-2 vote at Tuesday's regular commission meeting.

Four attorneys applied for the job. Three were interviewed by the commission on Tuesday.

Mayor Joel Quintanilla said Alvarez would be sworn in at the next regular commission meeting, Jan. 20.

Alvarez's salary is expected to be approved at a future meeting.

Municipal Judge Rogelio Garcia, who was the alternate judge before Jesse Contreras became the 449th state district judge, had his contract with the city renewed. His salary for about 60 hours a week was approved at $3,000.

In other city matters, the commission approved the city's contract with Pro-Medic EMS ambulance service of San Juan.

City Manager Ricardo Garcia told the commission he was surprised that San Benito pays a "substantially lower" monthly rate of $4,000 for
its ambulance service. Mercedes' contract rate is $15,000 per month.

"There's huge discrepancies there," said Commissioner Dianna G. Tovar.

John Peña, the business development director for Pre-Medic EMS, said the Mercedes rate was done at a low price.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss what's transpiring between San Benito and Pro-Medic EMS," Peña said. "We don't want to take advantage of any people."

In Mercedes, Pro-Medic responds to 100 calls a month. In San Benito, it responds to about 300, Peña said. The 200 extra calls justify the rate, he added.

City officials said they would closely monitor the nine-month contract with Pro-Medic by checking monthly on its work within Mercedes.