EXXON BUILDING — The renovation continues at the old Exxon Building. Touring the building Monday were Melissa De La Garza, tax collector-assessor, Leo Alarcon, county clerk, Pete De La Garza, county judge, and Mario Sandoval, project manager of CAS companies. (Photo by Gloria Bigger-Cantu). Renovations on the old Exxon Building, owned by Kleberg County, continues. The projected completion date will be at the end of the year. The renovated facility will be home to the county tax, election, and veterans offices and the indigent care and welfare department.

Kleberg County Judge Pete De La Garza speaks enthusiastically about the renovation that will be highly visible in the downtown area. The county is also undertaking new projects that include a new human services building, jail expansion, upgrades at Kleberg Park and another senior citizen center in Ricardo.

“I am very proud that all of these projects are being done with the $6 million from the certificates of obligation and did not cause additional taxes to the taxpayers,” Judge De La Garza said.

GROUNDBREAKING — Work on the new Kleberg County Human Services building will begin next week. Present at the groundbreaking were, from left, Commissioner David Rosse, Tax Assessor-Collector Melissa De La Garza, Commissioner Norma Alvarez, Human Services Director Margie Del Bosque, Judge Pete De La Garza, Commissioner Roy Cantu, Commissioner Romeo Lomas, Sheriff Edward Mata, County Clerk Leo Alarcon, and Mario Sandoval, project manager. (Photo by Erika Hernandez). “This building is very healthy and we have been told by architects that the building is structurally sound,” De La Garza said. The building currently is worth $4 million, the judge said.

“We were told by the architects that it would be a sin to demolish the building,” De La Garza said.

He is pleased that the renovated Exxon Building, located on Fifth Street, will coincide with present and future downtown revitalization projects.

“This is a good revitalization project that will dovetail into the renovation of the old H.M. King High School,” De La Garza said. The old H.M. King High School was transferred by the Kingsville Independent School District to a non-profit foundation, and work has begun on renovating the structure.

De La Garza is especially pleased that he has held the line on taxes during the 12 years he has served as county judge. These projects will not burden the taxpayers with additional tax monies, he emphasized.

The Kleberg County Commissioners Court authorized De La Garza to sign the contract for the Exxon Project and Human Services Building in March. The renovation of the Exxon Building had been in the plan stage since last year along with the jail expansion. The building of a new human services center materialized this year because of cost savings on the other construction projects.

The renovation of the Exxon building will be about $1.9 million. The cost of the new human services building will be about $845,000 and the new facility will be built in the area behind the Precinct 4 offices that are located at 622 N. 14th St. where the county owns eight acres.

In working with the Exxon Building, De La Garza decided to have offices on the top floor and keep the first floor for storage spaces.

This gave the county additional money to include the new human services building that he had personally promised to senior citizens.

Building 

The county judge also foresees that the Commissioners Court could meet in the renovated Exxon Building in the future. This cost effective measure would allow more space for the sheriff’s department.

“I have also worked it out where we can have another senior citizen place in Ricardo and this is almost done,” De La Garza said.

In addition, the jail expansion will have 38 beds at the cost of about $2 million.

Upgrades at Kleberg County Park include a new air conditioning system at the J.K. Northway Exposition Center, new restrooms and a new entrance.

Last year the county sold the certificates of obligation for $6 million. The Kleberg County Commissioners Court voted to allocate $2 million for major renovations for the Exxon Building, $2 million for the jail expansion, and $1 million for unrestricted funds.

“I see good things ahead for Kleberg County with all the buildings,” De La Garza said.

“I hope the building (Exxon building) will be done and open before I leave office Dec. 31,” De La Garza said. “Those have been my projects, and I thank the Commissioner Court for the backing they have given me.”