The Odessa Development Corporation reached consensus to stay with the Odessa Chamber of Commerce for economic development after two members raised questions about whether it should stand on its own.
No action was taken during the meeting, held in the city council chambers at Odessa City Hall.
The question came up from ODC Board member Jeff Russell after Wes Burnett, director of economic development for the chamber resigned to work for Nacero, a $6 to $7 billion natural gas processing and production facility.
Russell wanted to explore the pros and cons of having ODC conduct economic development on its own.
Chamber President and CEO Renee Earls said Burnett is still available on an as-needed basis.
Earls said the chamber has been the contractor since 1997 when ODC started. It is paid $988,000 for economic development work and the contract was just approved about 60 days ago.
Earls said the chamber has three departments — ODC, which is funded through the ODC; tourism which is funded through hotel-motel tax and operations, which is self-sustaining, paid through membership and events.
All the money that goes to the chamber economic development department from ODC goes toward economic development. Earls said it is in a separate fund and not comingled with any other activity.
All the money that is not spent is returned to the city and it goes back into the ODC coffers.
“We are audited annually, which many of the contractors are not,” Earls said. “And I think, you know, with no disrespect that there’s a saying, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. And I think that we have many people who feel like it’s going well. We are accountable. We’re not only accountable to you, but we have a board of directors of 30 people who oversee us, as well. We have a staff; if you take Wes out of the component, that staff still has over 40 years experience in economic development with Odessa. I will tell you that there’s no one in this room more than me who will make sure that we have the right person in that position.”
“The position is a chamber position, so ultimately I make that hire,” Earls added.
But she asked that they have a search committee. She asked two ODC board members, Tim Edgmon and David Boutin, to sit on it, as well as chamber board members.
Earls said she didn’t want that sole responsibility.
“I want other people’s opinions. We did the very same thing when we hired Wes. We got a group together and we went and found Wes and had him come back to the chamber. He did not apply for the job. We went and found him, so we feel like … we’re certainly doing a good job for you. We work each and every day to promote Odessa. I think it works well. … ,” Earls said.
Earls added that the chamber is a one-stop shop.
ODC Board member Kris Crow also wanted to look at the possibility of having ODC do its own economic development. Crow joined the meeting on Zoom.
He said there are synergies between the chamber and economic development and all those pieces work together.
“But it’s our job as ODC to look out for what’s best for ODC and if that happens to be staying partnered with the chamber; fantastic. That’s great. I think every so often we have to do our due diligence and look at other options, one of which would be is this a time that Odessa Development Corporation needs to stand on its own two feet,” Crow said.
Earls said she would expect that the discussion could come up again in the summer when the contract is up for renewal.
