Cameron County Clerk Sylvia Garza-Perez Presents to La Feria Chamber of Commerce

Updated: September 22, 2017

Cameron County Clerk Sylvia Garza-Perez, MHA, BA presents the latest in public records management and preservation to the Chamber at their meeting last week. Photo: Victor Moreno/LFN

Demonstrates Latest in Public Records Management and Preservation

by Victor Moreno/LFN

The La Feria Fiesta Tex-Mex Restaurant graciously opened their doors after business hours to host the La Feria Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting on Thursday, September 7, 2017.

After the normal meeting proceedings and discussion of agenda items Chamber President Sunny K. Philip then invited Cameron County Clerk Sylvia Garza-Perez, MHA, BA to present the latest in public records management and preservation to the audience.

The presentation began with a history of the County Clerk’s office and the many general responsibilities of that office. The County Clerk’s office serves as clerk for the county court, county courts at law and the county. The office is also entrusted to keeps records pertaining to county courts, real and personal property, personal records, vital statistics, birth records (with the exception of births recorded within the city limits of Brownsville, Harlingen and San Benito), issues marriage licenses, and other licensing and recording requirements.

County Clerk Garza-Perez then expounded on a six year plan for the preservation and restoration of the County Clerk’s records archive which was approved by the Commissioners Court on September 5, 2013.

Since then the three phase plan for the archival imaging, rebinding, and quick link digital imaging to 16mm archival microfilm of records has produced some very impressive preserved items such as the disaster safe binders which provide protection from fire, water, mold, humidity, pollutants, UV light, rodents and impact.

While displaying some samples of these binders, Garza-Perez explained the preservation process which led the County Clerk’s office to receive multiple awards and recognitions for maintaining the State’s required standards in 2015 and 2016.

Port Commissioner Carlos Masso of the Port of Brownsville shared some of the activities going on at the port. Photo: Victor Moreno/LFN

Before the meeting concluded, Port Commissioner Carlos Masso of the Port of Brownsville shared some of the activities going on at the port.

Masso also shared updates on the LNG (liquefied natural gas) and state of the art steel mill projects.

He concluded by inviting anyone to contact the port and sign up to take a tour which would provide an informative look at the current and future state of the Port of Brownsville.