RIO HONDO — Calls came in quicker than expected.
Mayor Gustavo Olivares has started taking calls on how the Rio Hondo bridge closure is affecting local businesses.
“It’s taking a pretty good hit on us,” said Jason White, owner of Rio Hondo Lumber.
“We are hurting and it’s not a secret,” White said. “I have been cutting hours and the thought of shutting down has crossed my mind.”
Rio Hondo’s famed lift bridge over the Arroyo Colorado closed Sept. 26 as crews began a $12 million overhaul.
Texas Department of Transportation officials say renovations are expected to be completed by December 2017. Meanwhile, the bridge will be locked in the up position.
Yesterday, in the first meeting with local merchants, Olivares expressed the need to buy local.
“We are willing to do whatever we got to do,” Olivares said.
The meeting with the business owners was meant to hear out complaints about the bridge closure, hash out ideas and to assure the business owners the city wants to help.
The meeting drew four local business owners out of a list of 25 invitations that were sent out by the city.
One of the ideas that came out of the first meeting was to create a social media campaign to advertise their services or specials to help draw more people to shop in town.
City Administrator Ben Medina reported the renovation of the bridge will continue for at least another eight months.
“I’m encouraging people to come to Rio Hondo and for the residents to shop local,” Olivares said.
He said the community needs to work together for successful businesses, successful schools and a successful city.
Olivares said they need all stores to stay in business.
“I think the meeting went great,” Olivares said. “We heard ideas and now we need to put some action into place to help the local businesses.”
Olivares said it’s scary to see the funding not coming in.
“We’re here to help as much as we can,” Olivares said at yesterday’s meeting. “What you feel, the city is feeling.”
Medina reported the city will not see the impact of the sales tax revenue losses until the December Texas Comptroller’s report is released.
“We should be OK, but we just need to hang in there,” Olivares said.
