Just weeks after the Odessa City Council voted to remove Kris Crow from his position as Odessa Development Corporation president, the council kicked his second-in-command, Jeff Russell, out of office, too.
The decision came after much sniping by council members and audience members. The final vote was 5-1-1 with Council member Chris Hanie voting against and Greg Connell abstaining.
During its last meeting, the council voted 6-1 to remove Crow after he was accused of prohibiting an attorney hired by the ODC from talking to Mayor Javier Joven and city staff about using ODC money to address the city’s failing infrastructure.
Council member Mark Matta led the charge when it came to Crow, but this week it was Council member Steve Thompson taking the initiative. Thompson alleged the ODC voted on contractor agreements without properly posting the items under Texas Open Meetings laws and he also said the contracts hadn’t been vetted by the ODC’s legal counsel or shared with the contractors.
Russell contended the contracts were handled the same way they have always been handled. He said despite City Attorney Dan Jones’ opinion to the contrary, ODC attorney Jeff Moore doesn’t believe any open meeting laws have been violated.
“I guess we disagree because I’ve done my research as well and I believe…” Thompson said before being cut off by Russell.
“Well, I’ll stand on Mr. Jeff Moore, our attorney, who does this for a living. So I’ll take his advice over others,” Russell said.
Thompson reiterated his opinion that the city is entitled to use the sales tax money shared with the ODC for certain infrastructure needs.
“We’ve all been through that 14,794 times,” Thompson said citing 501.103, the law governing economic development corporations.
Russell shot back, “You tend to lack the willingness to look at the details of 501.103.”
Thompson then accused Russell of “barging” into a meeting between Moore and city staff on Aug. 2 to discuss that law.
“I didn’t barge in uninvited. My appointee (Hanie) instructed me he wanted me here,” Russell said.
The pair then argued about Moore’s role and whose interests he represents, the ODC’s or the city’s.
When given the opportunity to speak, Hanie made a comment about Thompson having a “good way of getting under everybody’s skin” before segueing into comments about somebody on the council breaking the law twice.
He never got to finish that thought because Jones questioned whether he was sticking to the agenda.
“We are on the agenda because we’re representing firing somebody again. So we are on this agenda. So now we’re firing one of the best workers. You’ve heard his people and now you guys are wanting to fire another one,” Hanie said.
Hanie told Thompson he only wanted to get rid of Russell so he could get ODC money without any resistance.
“You’re wanting to consider money for your roads up there. You want money to consider for other things built up there, for your friends up there, and it’s (always) been known and it’s still known today,” Hanie said. “I don’t think you’re the man that should be calling this, that you should be asking for somebody to resign. I think you should be resigning from this council and not be re-running again.”
Hanie and Thompson then argued over who said the ODC is not the city’s piggy bank with Hanie saying it was Thompson and Thompson saying it was a member of the ODC.
“I have never said that,” Thompson said.
“I’m not a liar,” Hanie said.
In fact, Crow has said it multiple times.
Mayor Javier Joven asked the council members to remain civil and to “maintain a decorum,” but moments later Hanie said he didn’t think Matta should be allowed to vote because Russell pulled papers to run against him in November’s election.
He said, “this looks like Mark is out to get….” before Joven quickly jumped in.
“That is completely false Councilman Hanie,” Joven said.
“What else does it look like?” Hanie said, interrupting.
“Mr. Hanie, that is just an opinion and to erroneously put this in this meeting and make an accusation…I had just said to…” Joven said.
“That wasn’t an accusation. It’s the truth,” Hanie said, again interrupting.
Later, Joven asked City Secretary Norma Aguilar who pulled a packet to run against Matta and she said it was Russell’s son.
A handful of local residents also shared their views on the situation.
Dallas Kennedy said it’s clear there’s a rift between the council and ODC and he doesn’t care who’s to blame, but it needs to be fixed.
ODC member Larry Robinson praised Russell’s business acumen and said he doubts many of projects that are currently in the pipeline can be accomplished without him.
“He stays awake and alert anytime he’s in this council, unlike Mr. Steve Thompson, who, when he’s on this side, is usually asleep…I have probably 40 pictures of him snoozing back here,” Robinson said.
He told the council it was “unconscionable” to fire Crow the way it did, with him being out-of-town with a daughter in the hospital following a car wreck, Robinson said.
Ronnie Phillips called Crow’s firing a “hatchet job” and done with the sole purpose of grabbing “their money.” He said he didn’t know Russell, but said his actions have been reasonable.
Crow said removing Russell from the ODC would be a “travesty” because he brings a lot of energy, experience and knowledge to the table. He also said the contracts were handled the way they’ve always been handled.
“This is, in my opinion, nothing more than a witch hunt for whatever reason it may be,” Crow said. “I just urge you to look at the facts. Look at what’s here. You’ve got a great person representing you on the Odessa Development Corporation. Please think twice before you remove Jeff.”
Ronnie Lewis pointed out Russell has lost all three of the elected positions he’s run for in the past and he thought the council should consider the will of the people when making their decision.
Joven told everyone he considers Crow and Russell friends and it was “extremely hard” for him to vote Crow out, but the council has a “solemn obligation to do what’s best for the City of Odessa and what’s best for our citizens.”
As for Russell, Joven said he had hoped he’d be cooperative, “but it’s rather clear to me that I feel that Mr. Russell has got to a point where sabotaging relationships has become his number one thing.”
After voting Russell out, Matta made the motion to appoint Gene Chavez to replace Crow. It passed unanimously.
When Hanie tried to appoint Phillips to the ODC board, he was rejected because Phillips need to fill out an application.
This marks the second time Russell has been removed from the ODC.
He was removed from the ODC by a 4-3 council vote in January 2022.
At that time, Thompson and former Council member Mari Willis called for Russell to be removed after he participated in discussions about a Rhodes USA proposal at a December ODC meeting despite telling then-Chairman Tim Edgmon he had a business relationship with Rhodes USA. They also said he didn’t file conflict of interest paperwork in a timely manner.
Russell told council members he was mistaken and he actually doesn’t have a business relationship with the company. As for the paperwork, Russell said Edgmon didn’t tell him he needed to file such paperwork.
Those who voted to oust Russell said his behavior caused the appearance of impropriety. Council member Denise Swanner, who appointed Russell to the ODC, strenuously objected to his removal alleging Thompson himself has had conflicts of interest and failed to remove himself from discussions. Thompson denied the allegations.
In other matters, the council:
- Awarded a contract to design and implement improvement measures at the Bob Derrington Wastewater Treatment Plant to Performance Services.
- Agreed to pay just under $3 million to Triun LLC to replace safety fencing and rails at the Derrington Plant, make pipe and pump improvements, buy and install grit system mixers and replace sidewalks, stairs and two overhead cranes. The company will also remove all water and grit inside the grit removal system.
- Awarded a $1 million contract to Hydromax USA to evaluate and replace water distribution valves throughout the city. The project will allow city workers to isolate and fix waterline breaks more quickly in the future.
- Approved multiple contracts for companies that will be called on an as-needed basis for engineering and design services, land surveying services and architectural services.
Assistant City Manager Cristina Burns has said having an on-call list would save the city time and money by reducing the need for additional meetings, preparing new RFQs and issuing additional legal notices.
- Passed a resolution establishing a maximum tax rate of $0.466275 for FY 24-25. The rate is lower than last year but will bring in more revenue with some of that new revenue tied to new properties in the city.
- Gave Playgrounds Etc. a $349,000 contract to resurface Sherwood Park. According to materials provided to the council by Parks and Recreation Director Max Reyes, the surface will be poured-in-place which is cooler than artificial turf, more durable and resistant to vandalism. Right now the park isn’t ADA compliant, but it will become so, Reyes told the council.
- Chose a logo for the new sports complex. The logo was designed by Karen Pecina, an art student at UTPB.
