City grants demolition after home fire

By Marc Robertson - Editor | February 26, 2025

“This was a disaster…”

By Marc Robertson
The Cotulla City Council has made an exception to its policy of attaching a lien or charging property owners for demolishing abandoned or derelict structures, agreeing in February to provide the service free of charge to a local family.
The decision came on a unanimous vote after a plea by Andy Herrera and family to waive the $3,800 fee that the city would have charged to remove the wreckage of a burned home in the 1200 block of Matamoros Street.
The Herrera family lost all of its possessions when the home burned in December.
“This was a disaster,” Councilor Gilbert Ayala said of the loss. “I believe we should help them out.”
The councilor added that he believes the county government has expressed an interest in providing additional help in clearing the wreckage but that such an arrangement between the two entities would require an interlocal agreement, which was not part of the Feb. 13 council agenda.
“I spoke with Attorney Keith Franklin about this,” City Attorney Steve Pena said of talks between the city and the county’s legal counsel. “What we typically do is file a lien on the property.”
Atty. Pena cautioned the council against making a singular exception favoring one family and acting contrary to standard procedure for home demolition.
“I think, while the interest to the city is profound, there are a lot of people who need things,” the city attorney told the council. “The problem lies with taking one disaster over another.”
Interim city administrator Juanita Fonseca suggested at the meeting that councilors consider establishing a relief program for families in need after a disaster such as a home fire.
“You could set the amount of funds that are available each year,” Fonseca said.
“I propose that we do it,” Mayor Sandra Luna said of the city agreeing to demolish the home. “Do we want to file a lien?”
“The family is living out of a motel,” Councilor Ayala said. “They’re having bake sales to raise funds. We don’t have disasters every month.”
“I don’t feel like a lien is necessary,” the mayor said.
“I’m sure these people are terribly deserving,” Atty. Pena said, again prompting the council to consider a policy that would assist needy families. “The problem is that there are a lot of deserving people out there. You could have a house that burned down fifty years ago… You have to have a process. You feel sorry for this guy, well, what about that guy?”
The decision to demolish the home free of charge was made on a motion by Councilor Manuel Rodriguez, seconded by Councilor Ayala.