HORIZON
AUTHORITIES
Utility services
The Town of Horizon City (915.852.1046) has responsibility
for the day-to-day administration of its police,
zoning, subdivision approval, building control and
road maintenance. The township also controls subdivision
within its one-mile Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
(ETJ) to the east. Horizon has plans to annex land
to keep up with urban expansion, though these plans
are complicated by an ETJ, which overlaps with that
of the City of El Paso.
The City of El Paso (915.541.4000) controls all
subdivisions within its five-mile eastern ETJ. This
area extends all the way to the western boundaries
of Horizon City.
El Paso County (915.546.2000) controls subdivisions
in all remaining areas. Otherwise, its responsibilities
apply to all unincorporated areas, including the
ETJ’s of both El Paso and Horizon. There is
no zoning, planning or building regulation in unincorporated
county areas in Texas. The county also has some jurisdiction
within incorporated areas.
The boundaries of the Horizon Regional Municipal
Utility District (915.852.3917) include most of the
wider Horizon area. HRMUD now has more than adequate
water supply and treatment capacity for the next
five years and can expand as needed. The HRMUD also
provides sewerage and trash services.
El Paso Electric (915.543.5970) covers the whole
of the county and has been implementing a major upgrade
of its network in the Horizon area. Power is supplied
by coal-generated stations in New Mexico and long-term
availability has been assured by the procuring of
a stake in Arizona's Palo Verde Nuclear Generation
Station. The company is also investing in alternative
energy sources.
Southern Union Gas distributes natural gas (915.544.6300).
The City of El Paso regulates the company at the
local level and the Texas Railroad Commission regulates
it at the state level. The company uses a mix of
interstate, intrastate and spot market gas. This
affords customers some of the lowest available rates
along with one of the more stable gas supplies in
the nation.
Southwestern Bell oversees the local telephone network
(1.800.464.7928). The company has deployed advanced
digital switches in all central offices and connected
them with fiber optics. There are currently 13 central
offices in the Horizon/El Paso area.
Socorro Independent School District and Clint Independent
School District serve Horizon. Both have been highly
rated by state and local standards. Socorro ISD (915.937.0000)
extends from East El Paso to the westernmost side
of Town of Horizon City. Clint ISD (915.851.2877)
covers the remainder of the Horizon area. Main offices
for Clint ISD, Socorro ISD and HRMUD are in the Horizon
area.
Coordinating group
In 2002, representatives of the various authorities
in the area started meeting on a monthly basis to
keep informed of local developments, and each other’s
plans. The Horizon Coordinating Group (HCG), as it
is called, was organized with the help of the Rio
Grand Council of Governments. The meetings are open
and local developers are encouraged to attend.
Emergency services
The El Paso County Emergency Services District #1
provides the Horizon Communities area with fire and
ambulance services. The Emergency Services District
is a tax-supported public agency. It was originally
established in 1975 as a rural fire prevention district.
It has an annual operating budget of approximately
$250,000, and operates four fire trucks and two special
equipment vehicles. The district is also responsible
for emergency ambulance service through a county-contracted,
private ambulance company.
A minimum of 15 volunteers, of which several are
certified as emergency medical technicians, emergency
care attendants and firefighters are available to
respond to Horizon City area emergencies.
Supervised by a three-member Board of Commissioners
appointed by the El Paso County Commissioners Court,
the District services the communities of Horizon
City, Agua Dulce, Ascension, and Lakeway. It also
assists other adjoining emergency districts when
necessary to suppress fires outside of the District
boundaries.
Horizon
Communities Improvement Association
14200 Ashford • Horizon City, TX 79928
915.852.1811 • FAX 915.852.1814 • 1.800.729.4242 |
