Residents urge county action on water, sewer and resource oversight during public comment

During public comment the court heard firsthand accounts of local infrastructure and resource concerns that inform the county’s conversation about future development.

Eduardo Echavez described conditions in Montana Vista and nearby neighborhoods: he said residents lack reliable water and sewer service, recounted recurring water‑main failures and said he had questions about a prior state allocation he described as $28,000,000 for Montana Vista and adjacent areas. Echavez asked why some households still lack water and urged the county to help low‑income residents who cannot afford meters or repairs.

Michael Clark warned that water is El Paso’s “most limited and most vital resource” and said the county must make sure developers pay for the resources their projects require, rather than shifting costs to ratepayers. Multiple commenters asked that the county build public engagement and oversight into planning for large infrastructure‑intensive projects.

Beverly Ulmer and Elizabeth Crawford offered remarks connecting faith‑based perspectives to the county’s recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. and sanctity‑of‑life themes; Ulmer described church‑based pregnancy support and urged residents to seek help rather than abortion.

The court acknowledged the concerns and invited departments to assist; the water and data‑center discussions later informed the commissioners’ direction to staff to create a data‑center best‑practices guide with public outreach, cross‑departmental input and potential outside review.