A much needed taxicab service is in the works for the city of Kingsville.

The first step was taken when the Kingsville city commissioners who approved a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity at a meeting on Monday.

Stringent regulations and city ordinances must be met before a person can operate a taxi service in Kingsville, and the taxicab owner has begun the process.

“Kingsville needs a taxi service badly and I am willing to work hard,” Jose R. Ramos, the taxicab owner, said Friday.

“I am asking for help in anyway to get this service rolling.”

He is in the process of seeking the insurances, vehicle licenses and is completing the necessary paperwork.

Ramos, who has lived in Kingsville three years, has experience operating a taxicab service in the Bronx, New York City, where he lived most of his life. While working as a policeman in New York, he owned three taxis in the Bronx.

He retired after 20 years as a policeman.

He believes there is a real need for taxis in this area based on his personal experiences.

He moved to this area so that his wife could be close to Mexico near her family. His wife currently stays in Mexico, and he often travels to visit her. Sometimes he rides the bus to and from Mexico.

“One day I got dropped at the bus station, and I called different people to pick me up and take me home,” said Ramos Friday.

“I told myself something has to be done to help people.”

It has been awhile that anyone has shown interest in operating a taxi service. One taxicab operated about 10 years ago and was in existence about eight years.

Charlie Suarez was the sole driver for the Yellow Cab taxi service that operated for about 10 years. He worked for his employer about eight years.

Suarez recalled picking up people in Kingsville, Ricardo, Riviera, on a 24- hour basis. He also took people to the Corpus Christi airport.

“We really need a taxicab here,” said Charlie Suarez. “People ask me often what happened to the taxi.”