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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Willacy County, located in the southern Lower Rio |
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Grande Valley region of South Texas, containing more than 29,627 |
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acres of federally managed land and wildlife; and |
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WHEREAS, Willacy County Commissioners Court recognize the |
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importance of U.S. Department of Interior objectives as the |
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nation's natural resource caretaker with aim to promote public |
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lands, wildlife, environmental sustainable energy and preserve |
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cultural heritage. |
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WHEREAS, Willacy County is a rural community with the |
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diligence of its county leadership to promote its cultural |
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heritage, join with businesses, governmental and civic |
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organizations in alliance, partnership and contractual agreements |
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to foster professional relations aimed to promote a diversified |
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economy while it also maintains its agricultural values, supports |
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conservation of natural resources and wildlife preservation. |
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WHEREAS, The community of Willacy County is a unique regional |
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community known for its abundant natural resources adding economic |
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growth, technology, environmental and energy conservation goals |
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with the recent completion of 600 megawatts wind farm operations |
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facilitating green energy source to South and Central Texas |
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communities, headquarter to a fiber optic corporate office |
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facilitating jobs, rural and regional access to Internet, |
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communication technology and over $20 million energy capital |
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investment expenditure includes current energy exploration in |
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portions of the U.S. public lands located in Willacy County. |
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WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the Santa Ana |
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National Wildlife Refuge, the Tieniente and East Lake - Sal del Rey |
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sections of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, |
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the Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, and the Padre Island |
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National Seashore--Laguna Madre; |
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WHEREAS, Willacy County joins other Lower Rio Grande Valley |
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tourist organization and the regional U.S. Wildlife Refuge to show |
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case natural landscapes, wildlife and promote an average of $400 |
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million annual tourist economic impact to the region; as a result, |
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the development of the Coastal Land Resource Center and Laguna |
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Point Recreation Area at Port Mansfield are also vital to enhance |
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environmental science education, outdoor recreation activities, |
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electric generation and conservation and viewing of wildlife |
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including various public infrastructure improvements to promote |
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the fishing industry, access to, and appreciation of, the area's |
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great outdoors are currently in development, with completion dates |
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set for 2014; and |
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WHEREAS, Willacy Commissioners Court in 2009, entered a |
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Mutual Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife |
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Service, Santa Ana Wildlife Refuge - South Texas complex to promote |
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ecotourism, accessible roadways, and to manage and preserve its |
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pristine environments; and |
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WHEREAS, U.S. Department of Interior appointed Secretary, |
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Sally Jewell intimately understands the vital role of environmental |
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sustainable energy, ecotourism, preserved cultural heritage plays |
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in local and state economies, and it is indeed appropriate to invite |
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her to see firsthand how the abundant natural resources of Willacy |
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County are helping to drive its economy; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That Willacy County hereby extends an official |
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invitation to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior, |
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Sally Jewell, to visit Willacy County to learn more about the |
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county's achievements and other areas in the Lower Rio Grande |
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Valley with tour plans relating to the protection and enhancement |
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of the area's environment; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the chief clerk forward an official copy of |
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this resolution to the U.S. Department of Interior. |