Couple Sued By State In Colonia Development

SIERRA BLANCA, Texas (AP) – A Hudspeth County employee and his wife have been accused in a state lawsuit of violating colonia-prevention laws, the Texas Attorney General’s Office announced Friday.

Adolfo Ramirez, a Hudspeth County Appraisal District employee, and his wife, Patricia Ramirez, are accused of not installing or bonding sewer and water services at 16 residential lots they were selling in the Sierra Blanca Land Development-Phase One subdivision.

Texas law requires border-area developers and land speculators to guarantee basic water and wastewater infrastructure before lots are sold, Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a statement.

The civil case was filed this week in Travis County A published telephone number for the Ramirezes was disconnected. It was unclear Friday if the couple had hired a lawyer.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)