The county weathered the storms - literally and figuratively.

The county survived the onslaught of Hurricane Dolly last year and is taking steps to prevent future flooding through drainage projects jointly planned by county commissioners and the drainage district, Hidalgo County Judge J.D. Salinas said during his State of the County address Tuesday evening.

And while other regions of the country are suffering through the economic recession, Hidalgo County has maintained its rainy-day fund and is expecting growth when the nation's economy rebounds.

During a 45-minute speech at Knapp Medical Center, Salinas highlighted the county's accomplishments in the past year, including the drainage work, a new prescription discount card for county residents and the formation of a regional economic development council.

During this next year, the county will face challenges ranging from alleviating poverty and unemployment to preparing for the possibility of another hurricane this summer, Salinas said. But by creating partnerships with Hidalgo County cities, other Rio Grande Valley counties and state and federal entities, the county will "make progress in the face of adversity."

"We are not immune (to the economic crisis)," Salinas said. "But if we work together, if we keep our eye on the prize, we will get through this."

LAST YEAR

Salinas made no major announcements during the speech, which included video cameos from county commissioners and the state's two U.S. senators.

The address mostly highlighted the county's work in the past year.

With the support of local pharmacists, the county introduced a prescription discount card in November that saved residents more than $240,000 on prescriptions, Salinas said. The county also served almost 5,000 indigent patients in its health clinics, expanded programs for children and lobbied for a veterans hospital.

In infrastructure improvements, the county started work on flood control projects in its precincts, including digging retention ponds and cleaning up irrigation ditches.

With resolutions of support from 17 mayors in the county and the Texas Border Coalition, the county compromised with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to incorporate levee improvements into the border fence.

Salinas said the 22 miles of levee improvements protect $2 billion worth of property and eliminate the need for mandatory flood insurance for thousands of homes and businesses.

And in economic development, the county secured state and federal funding for U.S. 281 upgrades that will improve mobility and provide a boost to the county's economic development, Salinas said. The county also recruited 15 groups to join the Rio South Texas Economic Council, which Salinas said will collaborate to attract private investment and jobs to the region.

2009 GOALS

Salinas pointed to the county's growing economy, strong regional cooperation and ties with Mexico as reasons for optimism in 2009.

The county is planning to go green by expanding the solar lighting it has already installed at the county administration building and two other locations, Salinas said. And it is researching recycling plans and considering automated lighting to save money and resources.

With the passage of the federal economic stimulus package, $220 million in levee improvements are planned by the International Boundary and Water Commission, Salinas said. The enhancements will improve safety for communities along the Rio Grande and spare the county from having to put up its own funds for the project.

The county still has not been reimbursed for the $44 million it spent on the levee-fence.

TEAMWORK

Despite Salinas' optimistic outlook, real success in 2009 will hinge on local and regional cooperation, he said in an interview before his address.

Two successes of the past year - the introduction of the prescription discount card and the levee-fence compromise with the federal government - were the result of partnerships the county built with local pharmacists and with federal entities, respectively, Salinas said.

"We really do have no boundaries if we work together," he said. "If we can do it during natural disasters, why can't we do it for everything else?"

Hidalgo County Commissioner Oscar Garza said the county's work on its flood control system since Hurricane Dolly was also a result of teamwork among the commissioners.

They have worked together to develop and fund drainage projects that should limit future flooding in Hidalgo County, Garza said. And they are partnering with the drainage district and other counties to make sure the projects fit into the regional flood plan.

"The reason the county is doing well is there's not a lot of, ‘I did this,'" Garza said. "It's more: ‘We are doing this.' We're working as a team, and the county is better off because of it."

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Jared Janes covers Hidalgo County government, Edinburg and general assignments for The Monitor. He can be reached at (956) 683-4424.