After more than 15 minutes of discussion, the Ector County Commissioners voted 4-1 to approved a declaration of Local Disaster to Secure the Border.
The motion was initiated by Mike Gardner, the commissioner for Precinct 1, and seconded by Precinct 2 commissioner Greg Simmons. Ector County Judge Debi Hays and Precinct 3 commissioner Don Stringer both voted in favor of the disaster declaration.
The lone dissenting vote came from Armando Rodriguez, the commissioner for Precinct 4, after he said he believed the disaster declaration was done for political purposes.
Hays explained her decision for voting in favor of the disaster declaration was due to the testimony from Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis.
“The sheriff needs help,” Hays said after Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting. “He needs either DPS to come and help him out in the county outside city limits or the reserves to come help him.”
Ector County Republican Party Chair Tish Crow and Griffis spoke to the Court about the disaster declaration. Griffis said it’s sad where we are headed and it’s sad where we are at.
“There’s a lot of stuff the general public doesn’t know what’s going on in this county,” Griffis said during the meeting. “If they knew, it would probably scare the fire out of them.”
Rodriguez after Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting doubled down on those politically motivated claims. Rodriguez is the lone Democrat on the Court. He said this agenda item was presented earlier this month and there has been ample time to present plans on how to combat drug and human trafficking, but no plans have been presented to the Court.
The disaster declaration would last for seven days. The commissioners would renew the declaration on Monday.
Rodriguez said if there was a plan to combat the drug and human trafficking that he would be in favor of it, but he said there’s no plan in place.
“They had 20 days and they had already been discussing it,” Rodriguez said. “By this time, they should already have information to back it up and give us all the details. They didn’t have the details.
“They were only talking to one side of the party. They didn’t take time to talk to me.
“We can imagine there’s a problem, but if you don’t have anything to back it up you can’t say there’s a problem.”
Commissioners also heard Ector County Utility District President Tommy Ervin talk about current and upcoming projects.
Ervin said he hopes ECUD will be finished with Tripp Avenue from Third Street to 42nd Street by the end of October and it’s paved by Thanksgiving. He said most of the projects that ECUD will focus on over the next 12 to 18 months will be ones paid for by ARPA Funds.
During its annual budget meetings in early August, commissioners awarded $10 million of ARPA funds to ECUD. Ervin said the first project that will use ARPA funds will be near GE Buddy West Elementary School on Sycamore Drive.
“That project will help, not only with the flow of water in that area, but there’s a hydrant that we flush about 25,000 gallons a month out of that, we will finish flushing that hydrant,” Ervin said during the meeting. “We won’t be wasting any more water there again. It will help with fire fighting protection of the school.”
At the start of Tuesday’s meeting, Ector County Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Scott Muri gave a presentation about the ConnEctor Taskforce regarding state funding options to expand broadband to residents in Ector County.
Muri said the project is estimated at $90 million. Muri said 25% of the cost would have to come from the community while the other 75% could be paid by the federal government. Muri told commissioners he also asked funds to be provided by the City of Odessa and he said he also received philanthropist interest. Muri called it a “grassroots effort.”
The court also:
>> Approved action regarding a proposed Resolution for Safe Place recognizing October as Domestic Awareness Month.
>> Approved a Proclamation designating October 2 – 8, 2022 as National 4-H Week.
>> Approved to hire Sara Moran for the County Extension (Horticultural Agent) to be shared for Ector County and Midland County.
>> Approved action on the 2022-2023 Budget for Emergency Communication District of Ector County.
>> Approved action to approve issuing 15 county phones for Building Maintenance employees for the implementation of the new Asset Essentials upgrade (Facility management software).
>> Approved action to transfer two abandoned trailers to be utilized by the Sheriff’s Office.
>> Approved action to approve the 2023 Sheriffs’ and Constables’ Fees.
>> Approved options on total loss designation per Travelers regarding Unit #1224 – Ector County Sheriff’s Office – 2021 Police Chevrolet Tahoe 4×2 – License # Texas 1412567 – VIN #1GBSCLED6MR418663 and requesting to declare this item as “Salvage Property” & dispose of said item per Section 263.151 and remove from County Inventory.
>> Approved United Healthcare’s proposed schedule for excess loss coverage.
>> Approved the purchase of a 2022 Ford Explorer for the Public Works Department in the amount of $38,781.25 from Sales Tax Account 005-810-5505.
>> Approved to secure bids to remove and install new roofs of County Courthouse at 300 N. Grant St. and the Administration Annex at 1010 E. 8th St.
>> Approved the SaaS Software Agreement for Tyler Incode.
>> Approved action to approve Flock Group Inc. Additional Services Agreement.
>> Tabled the contract proposal for Offenderwatch.
>> Approved action regarding an awarded grant from T-Mobile utilizing ECF (Emergency Connectivity Funds) from the FCC.
>> Approved to accept Travelers Indemnity Company Insurance Renewal Contract (in partnership with USI Insurance Services) for the 2022-2023 Policy Term comprised of the following coverages: Property, Inland Marine, Commercial General Liability, Commercial Auto Liability ($10,000 Deductible), Commercial Auto Physical Damage, Commercial Umbrella/Excess Liability, Employee Benefits Liability, Law Enforcement Liability, Excess Law Enforcement Liability, Public Entity Management Liability, UAV (Drone) Hull and Liability, Public Entity Employment Related Practices Liability, and Crime/Cyber Network Security & Privacy.
>> Approved an Interlocal Agreement between Midland County and Ector County on a temporary basis to allow Midland County to utilize the body cold storage facilities at the Ector County Medical Examiner’s office when necessary for a period of twelve months beginning October 1, 2022.
>> Approved action regarding current financial liability of comp time in county departments.
>> Approved action regarding Change Order #1 for the CTIF Seal Coat Project 2022.
>> Approved action regarding Change Order #3 for the West Apple Street Road Project.
>> Approved action regarding the Planning and Development Department’s Permit for Installation on County Right-of-Way Pipeline and Utility Crossing Agreement.
>> Approved action on Three Jewels Subdivision (Pct. 1) being a plat of a 10.00 acre trac located in Section 24, Block 41, T-2-S, T&P RY. CO. Survey Ector County, Texas.
>> Approved action on Penta Court (Pct. 1) a Subdivision of 5.00 acres in Section 25, Block 44, T-2-S, T&P. RY. Co. Survey, Ector County, Texas.
>> Approved action regarding the following proposed Consent Agenda: a. Approved a line item transfer on General Fund, Building Maintenance, Elevator Contracts, 001-710-5271 from Water/Sewer/Trash, 001-710-5354 for $20,000. b. Approved a line item transfer to General Fund, 70th District Court, Departmental Furniture/Equipment, 001-060-5199 from Educational Travel, 001-060-5161 for $200. c. Approved a line item transfer to County Records Management Fund, District Clerk, Contract Services, 001-110-5309 from Office Supplies, 014-110-5171 for $4,872. d. Approved a line item transfer to General Fund, Commissioner Pct 3, Educational Travel, 001-023-5161 from Commissioner Pct 1, Educational Travel, 001-021-5161 for $400.
>> Approved action on the Ector County Investment Policy.
>> Approved the Accounts Payable Fund Requirements Report for September 27, 2022 to review County financial statements and reports.
