Library fines

It’s not often that fines actually decrease, but patrons of the Ector County Public Library could see some overdue charges drop by 90 percent.
   The library currently charges a dollar per item per day for overdue videos. An item before Ector County commissioners at their Tuesday meeting would drop that rate to 10 cents per item per day, which is the same as books and other items at the library.
   The current rate for video rentals was set when videos were much more expensive and the library had fewer of them, library director Rebbecca Taylor said.
   “Now videos are a lot less expensive, and there’s kind of an inequity there,” she said.
   Taylor said that currently, fines on videos could get “exorbitant” if the items aren’t returned quickly. Plus, lowering the fines would allow for more consistency with the fines the library issues.
   She doesn’t see lowering fines as a potentially significant loss in revenue for the library.
   “Some people are simply not coming back to the library because they owe fines,” she said. “They don’t realize that if they turn in the item, the fine stops.”
   A second item on the commissioners agenda would allow the library to conduct a “food for fines” campaign that the library is working on with the West Texas Food Bank. It would allow library users to bring in food items in exchange for having library fines forgiven.
   Also on the agenda is an item that would reduce the speed limit on 56th Street between Northeast Loop 338 and California Avenue from 55 mph to 45 mph. Commissioner Greg Simmons said he put the item on the agenda after hearing concerns from some residents about the rate of speed in the area.
   Simmons said the speed limit currently increases from 45 mph inside the Odessa city limits to 55 mph on county-maintained roads and then drops to 35 mph once the road enters a residential area.
   “That way it won’t be as drastic of a drop once you get in front of some of those homes that front that road,” Simmons said.
   The affected stretch is about half a mile long.
   Commissioners will also consider:
   >> A presentation from Friends of the White Pool House.
   >> An inter-local agreement regarding grant funding available from the city of Odessa for the neighborhood stabilization program.
   >> Accepting a $200 donation to the Northside Senior Center.
   >> A renewal bond and oath for the elections administrator for $20,000 for a two-year term that began Sept. 17 and runs through Sept. 17, 2011.
   >> Appointing County Judge Susan Redford as the county’s responsible reporting entity authorized representative for the Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program Extension Act of 2007.
   >> Declaring a 2000 Ford F650 pickup as surplus and approving to trade the vehicle for a donated 2005 Ford 550 for the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department.
   >> Bid specifications for a 2010 Toyota Tundra SR5 Crew Max short-bed pickup.
   >> Action on procurement policies and procedures.
   >> Action on fixed asset policies and procedures.
   >> An addendum to the Ector County Master Service Agreement for the Permian Basin Regional Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse.
   >> The establishment of platting fees.
   >> Selling property at 809 W. 20th St. for $500, which is less than market value.

COMMISSIONERS MEETING
   >> What: Ector County Commissioners Court meeting.
   >> When: 10 a.m. Tuesday.
   >> Where: Commissioners Courtroom, Ector County Administration Building Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St.
   >> Call: 498-4100.