By: Mike Fong and Laura Solis, Lower Valley Matters
October 28, 2026
In Granger City Council’s meeting packet for the October 27th council meeting, two words were buried at the very end of the payroll document: “Tijerina Termination.” After questions from Councilmember Juan Isiordia near the end of the council workshop session, Mayor Hilda González confirmed that Granger Public Works Director Francisco “Frank” Tijerina “was let go.” She said that the matter would be discussed during an executive session closed to the public. Tijerina became the Public Works Director in 2023 after the retirement of longtime Director Jodie Luke.
The Granger Public Works Department is currently overseeing multiple major projects including the 3rd Street and SR 226 roundabout and water main replacement, a major roads resurfacing effort across the city tied to potential grants from the State Transportation Improvement Board (TIB), and major upgrades and redesign of the wastewater treatment facility pumps that were damaged by the flooding from last December. Overall, the department has responsibility for Granger’s utilities (water, sewer, garbage), parks, roads and facilities. Combined, these service areas make up more than half of the City’s entire $6M annual budget.
We reached out to the City for comment, but Mayor González responded, as anticipated, that Tijerina’s dismissal was a confidential personnel matter. With former Councilmember Judi Montes’ resignation on October 13th, that is now two major leadership departures shaking up City Hall this month.
While there was no livestream last night, the recorded videos from both the workshop and the council meeting can be found on the Mid-Valley TV website at: https://reflect-midvalley.cablecast.tv/internetchannel/?site=4
When announcing Montes’ resignation two weeks ago, Mayor González had said that plans to fill the vacancy on the Council would be discussed last night, but there was no public discussion on filling the vacancy. The Council has 90-days to fill the vacancy or the decision shifts to the Yakima County Board of Commissioners.
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