In the final regularly scheduled meeting of the calendar year, the Ector County Commissioners’ Court will hear about plans to take the next step into building a new Ector County Library.
The agenda item is detailed as “consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the evaluation ranking architect’s responses to the Request for Qualifications for Architectural Services for the building of the new library and authorize the start of negotiations for the design and building oversight of the County Library.”
Lucy Soto of the Ector County Purchasing Department and Ector County Library Director Howard Marks are scheduled to give the presentation for the Court.
On Wednesday morning, Soto said there were three submitted statements of qualification. She said she felt three was a little low, but Marks feels good with that number. Marks said he would rather have quality over quantity.
“I feel like its a matter of quality,” Marks said over the phone. “Three is a good number. Good things come in threes and it’s a good comparison. If we only had two, it wouldn’t be as fair and we couldn’t do it with one. This really allowed us to focus and hone in and take a look at each one and analyze it carefully. I’m glad there wasn’t too many.”
Marks said he’s excited for the plans for the new library to continue to take steps forward.
“This is a long time coming,” he said. “We can’t wait to get started. We are ready to go. There’s going to be a lot of things to do in 2023 and we will be hitting the ground running.”
Thursday’s meeting will be the final regularly scheduled Court meeting for Ector County Judge Debi Hays and Commissioner for Precinct 4 Armando Rodriguez. Dustin Fawcett, who won March’s primary, will take over as Ector County Judge at the beginning of the year, while Billy Hall, who defeated Savannah Morales during November’s general election, will preside over Precinct 4.
Hays, who was offered the Ector County Utility District general manager’s job last week, said on Wednesday morning that she hasn’t made a decision on whether she will accept the job or not.
However, Hays said she will abstain from voting on a Thursday agenda item regarding the sub recipient agreement with West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department and ECUD.
This agenda item is in regards for the $10 million in ARPA funds the Court approved to ECUD on Aug. 3. The West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department was approved for $1.94 million in ARPA funds.
“I will abstain from voting on that,” Hays said.
The court will also:
>> Receive a presentation from Coffman and TxDOT Aviation and take any necessary action.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to receive a brief presentation regarding additional funding options for the Ector County Youth Center and any additional buildings in the future.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a Resolution In Support of Additional Funding for the County Road Grant Program for Energy Impact Areas and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a Resolution in Support of HJR: Grow Texas Fund Legislation and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Accept a $26,000 donation from Barnhart & Bolt for the Sheriff’s Office.
>> Accept a $11.00 donation from Teresa Cornelius for the Sheriff’s Office.
>> Accept a $483 donation from Legacy Funeral Payable Co-op for the Sheriff’s Office.
>> Accept a $27 donation from Legacy Funeral Payable Co-op for the Sheriff’s Office.
>> Accept a $20,000 donation from Occidental Petroleum Corporation for the Sheriff’s Office.
>> Consider, discuss, and answer any questions regarding the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program and take any necessary action.
>> Consider, discuss, and answer any questions regarding the Senior Center Policy and Procedure and take any necessary action.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding placing a new donate button/link for the library website and purchase new fundraising software to start our new capital campaign to help raise funds for the new building and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding placing a new library lending machine configured for all material types with customized graphics and an accompanying book drop in the Music City Mall playground area next to JCPennys, the roll skating rink and the food court and to approve a budget amendment to General Fund, Library, Special Department Equipment, 001-690-5507 and to Donated Revenues, 001-4171 for $49,650.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the purchase of two Chevrolet Tahoes for Juvenile Probation Department and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the purchase of two Chevrolet Silverado 2500s for Building Maintenance in the amount of $104,850 from Sales Tax and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the purchase of a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with rig-up and a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 with rig-up for the Public Works Department in the amount of $112,470 from Sales Tax Account 005-810-5505 and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the purchase of a Chevrolet Silverado 2500 for Information Technology Department in the amount of $49,840 from Sales Tax Account 005-810-5505 and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the renewal to the Master Nursing Staffing Agreement between Reliable Nursing Services, Inc. and Ector County and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the approval of the Officer & Offender Meal Program and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding a renewal of the Cellbrite contract and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding a Consent to Assignment of Ground Lease Agreement and Assignment and Bill of Sale between Odessa Schlemeyer Airport and BEVO AIR, LLC, CHIVO AIR, LLC, collectively with 900NF, LLC, and HEDLOC AVIATION, LLC and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding entering into a contract with Landgraf, Crutcher and Associates (LCA) for the paving of 3.97 miles of caliche road and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding entering into a contract with Landgraf, Crutcher and Associates (LCA) for the design of Tripp Ave. Right of Way Widening and Improvements, and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Consider, discuss, approve, reject and take any necessary action regarding the Ector County Investment Report for the quarter ending September 30, 2022.
>> Consider and approve the Accounts Payable Fund Requirements Report for December 15, 2022 to review County financial statements and reports.
