The rift between the Odessa City Council and the former heads of the Odessa Development Corporation appears to be getting wider.
In recent weeks, the majority of the city council voted to oust ODC President Kris Crow and Vice President Jeff Russell, who were once considered to be close allies of Mayor Javier Joven and Council members Denise Swanner and Mark Matta.
Joven and other council members accused the pair of throwing up roadblocks that would prevent the city from accessing more than $90 million in sales tax money that is sitting in the ODC’s coffers and they argue could be used to improve the city’s failing infrastructure.
Crow, who was removed July 23, and Russell, who lost his position Tuesday, contend the city would be violating laws concerning economic development corporations that restrict their usage in certain circumstances. They further contend they have been working feverishly to find ways to help the city address water and road issues.
On Thursday night, the pair issued a press release alleging the council’s decision to end their appointments “was a deliberate effort by the City Manager, Mayor, and City Council to clear obstacles to the illegal reallocation of $90 million in ODC-controlled taxpayer funds toward development projects in Midland County.”
They further stated their removals were based on “unsubstantiated accusations intended to damage their reputations and remove any potential opposition to the Council’s agenda.”
Russell and Crow said they’d even been planning to redirect $18 million from the failed Nacero project to water infrastructure after hearing from their attorney that would be allowable under the law.
The pair further stated the council has floated the idea of issuing revenue bonds backed by future ODC sales tax receipts, but that idea is “legally dubious at best.”
The men closed their press release with the following statement: “Despite their removal, Crow and Russell remain committed to fighting for ‘the rest of Odessa. ’ While it’s frustrating to be unjustly attacked, we will continue to advocate for Odessa taxpayers. We stand against using public funds to subsidize wealthy developers while ignoring the critical needs of our city’s residents, especially those in under-served areas. We’re far from done.
Joven, who said last week the decisions to oust the pair pained him because he considers them friends, responded with a statement of his own, one adopted by Swanner and Matta.
He said the reality is the men were removed “for overstepping their bounds and treating the ODC as their personal political and economic organization.”
He alleged they met individually with potential recipients of ODC funding on numerous occasions, “placing onerous restrictions upon them to receive funding, without the knowledge of the other ODC board members.”
The mayor said Crow and Russell met with an attorney and gave him directions without the knowledge of other ODC board members or the city council.
“City staff have been subjected to road blocks as they work to bring in new business and plan the development of the City. An atmosphere of ‘How can we impede development’ has been fostered over one of “How do we make it easier for businesses to come to Odessa,” Joven’s statement reads.
As for the pair’s allegation that future projects are being located in Midland County, many of Odessa’s new neighborhoods are located in Midland County, the statement reads.
“The undeniable fact is that the City of Odessa is quickly growing into Midland County and this should never be an Ector vs. Midland County discussion but rather a ‘How do we grow the City of Odessa,” Joven wrote.
He continued.
“We are saddened that Mr. Crow and Mr. Russell have resorted to misrepresentation of facts and defamatory accusations. Those appointed to board positions serve at the pleasure of the City Council and at times there are reasons for removals. As reflected in the votes of the Council this was one of those times.”
Councilmember Greg Connell also noted ODC appointees serve at the pleasure of the council.
“The one thing life generally guarantees is change. In a perfect world, I would have preferred to have seen ODC-directed, board position discussions. Timely proactive discussions, to maintain and utilize, all of their talented appointees, in the very best way,” Connell wrote in an email.
He continued:
“An old oriental proverb: “When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and others build windmills.” Today, I choose to move in the direction of the latter.”
After Joven’s statement was released, Councilmember Chris Hanie, who opposed the pair’s terminations, replied all to the email.
“Please remove city council from this response and list the ones who supported this. I don’t agree with the mayor and his response only represents him.”
City Manager John Beckmeyer and Council members Steve Thompson and Gilbert Vasquez did not respond to an email seeking comment.
Numerous Facebook users took the City of Odessa and Joven to task for using the City’s Facebook page for a personal response from Joven calling it a misuse of public funds and posting Joven should use his own Facebook page and not the resources of the city.
