Ector County commissioners Tuesday wrapped up an ambitious $6.9-million project to replace all the old air conditioning units in 18 county buildings along with putting in new light-emitting diodes and installing two new chillers at the courthouse.
Approving the county’s final payment, the court heard Maintenance Director Charles Pierce commend the Johnson Controls Co. of Lubbock for its work.
In an interview before the 10 a.m. pre-Thanksgiving meeting, Pierce said the project will greatly reduce electric and gas expenses. “It’s a huge energy-saving project for us,” Pierce said.
“We replaced all 87 units in the old R-22 Freon system, which was non-energy-saving. All those units were at least 25 years old and were at the end of their life cycles. The project was paid for from my budget through a loan and the difference in electric and gas bills will pay for it. The taxpayers and commissioners court will never see it.
“It’s a very good thing that the commissioners did for us.”
Pierce said the work took a year and a half but was slowed by pandemic-related problems with trucking and shipping. “Trying to get things here really hurt,” he said.
“Johnson has a couple of people in Odessa that we can call if there is an emergency.”
In other business, the court heard United Way of Odessa Executive Director Hank Herrick appeal for a donation from the $16 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act money that the county received last summer for coronavirus relief. Herrick said the United Way fell $600,000 short of its $1.2-million goal last year and is $900,000 short of this year’s $1.4-million goal to help fund 20 local partner agencies and 29 programs providing services in health, education and self sufficiency.
Having decided in September to hire a consultant to help field pleas from hospitals and other entities, the commissioners did not indicate if they will grant Herrick’s request. A similar federal appropriation to the county is expected next summer.
The court also:
>> Donated $2,500 to the West Texas Justices of the Peace & Constables Association to help finance a regional conference here from April 25-28 next year at the Odessa Marriott Hotel & Conference Center with Discover Odessa Director Monica Tschauner saying at least 130 officials will participate and bring an economic impact of $86,301 to the city.
>> Allocated $400,670 from the sales tax fund to finance road and street improvements.
>> Voted to let Downtown Odessa Inc. use the courthouse lawn for showing the holiday movie “Elf” at 2 p.m. Dec. 18 as part of the City of Odessa’s Winterfest series of events.
>> Accepted a $5,603 donation from Law Enforcement Partners for the sheriff’s office.
