“Crap backed into my home” – Parking ordinance repeal sparks Hilltop havoc

By Breyana Segura - Chief Staff Writer | April 1, 2025

Frio County commissioners voted unanimously to modify the parking restrictions on county roads, following a contentious debate by residents in the Hilltop subdivision of Dilley on Tuesday, March 25.
The debate comes nearly three years after the court passed an ordinance prohibiting parking on the easement along county roads 4600, 4601, 4602, 4603, 4604, and 4605 in the Hilltop subdivision.
“I have been getting calls that there are medical providers that are getting cited or warned by county deputies,” Pct. 4 Commissioner Danny Cano said following the public hearing last week.
Commissioners opened a hearing before casting a vote to modify the ordinance and heard concerns from residents in support of and against the modifications.
“We were not notified,” Mario Ramirez said of the original ordinance passed in 2022. “A commissioner told me outside a restaurant.”
Cano confirmed earlier this week the ordinance was passed and advertised according to state laws.
“The people who are complaining do not work and and have not paid taxes,” Ramirez said. “There are people who park on the streets and they are not told anything. There were no issues until this passed and the street is wide enough. They have a problem with me because I work and I pay my taxes.
“The people that are complaining, they do not work so they have the time to be taking pictures, start arguments, be drinking and doing drugs,” Ramirez said at the meeting. “And all I am doing is working.”
Ramirez said he would like the county to do away with the ordinance because he believes it is unfair to those who work. Ramirez’ wife claimed law enforcement is not fair when issuing citations and warnings, alleging they “do not ticket everyone.”
A woman who lives in the subdivision told the court she does not see the harm in people parking along the easement if they are coming to visit.
“People have parties and they park in the street and I do not complain,” the woman said. “However, when my kids come, I tell them to park on the grass because, if not, people will call the cops.”
Carlos Ayala said signage prohibiting parking was placed two and a half years ago and that he supports the current ordinance.
“It is dangerous because they park on both sides of the street,” Ayala said. “Everyone there has an acre or more and can park on their property. Why do they have to park in the middle of the street to do their business? They are fixing tires in the middle of the street and the school bus has to stop because they are changing tires. If that law passes [taking down the signs and rescinding the ordinance] it is going to be a mess. They have junk cars. They want to do it for their own benefit.”
Ayala’s wife expressed concern over freight trucks parked on the easement, obstructing the view and endangering students riding the school bus.
“My concern is the 18-wheelers,” the woman said. “Sometimes, when the school bus comes, I have to go to the middle of the street. I vote to deny the signs be removed.”
Billy Clyde Garcia told the court he supports enforcing the current ordinance.
“I say for the signs to be left and for us to enforce what needs to be enforced,” Garcia said. “Roads are not for business. If you want to run a business, bring it onto your land.”
Garcia said parking on the easement was brought before the court in a prior administration due to individuals parking several vehicles and freight trucks on the easement.
“I was one of the ones who suffered damage,” Garcia said. “It cost me repairs to my home because of the sewage backup caused. Feces came up from their sewer trap that’s on the easement from the weight. Crap backed into my home and the city had to fix it. Ever since the ordinance was put into effect, Hilltop looked nice. You could look left and you could look right and nothing was blocking your view.”
Garcia thanked the sheriff’s office for enforcing the ordinance.
Commissioners amended the ordinance to allow parking on the county easement but upheld the ban for vehicles with more than two axles.