County approves curfew

Ector County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to continue a county curfew for teens in line with the city of Odessa and approved a resolution calling for changing a section of the state tax code.

The curfew has been in effect with the city of Odessa since 1997 and limits the hours kids under the age of 17 can be outside. During school days, teens can't be outside past 11 p.m., while on weekends, the curfew starts at midnight. The county just wants to continue its commitment to the same structure.

"We want to keep it uniform. It's especially important during the summer months to deter crime and prevent juvenile delinquency," County Judge Susan Redford said.

The new resolution dovetails with a request by the state county organization to call a special session dealing with section 23.175 of the state tax code concerning mineral interest valuations.

"It's a major loss of revenue, well over $1 million," Redford said.

She said the goal is to provide more equality in mineral valuations. The commissioners passed a similar resolution in the past but did so again with the possibility of the matter being addressed in a special session.

In other action, commissioners voted to approve repair for hangers at Schlemeyer Airport from the April 12 storm as soon as possible, exempting from the formal bidding process. They also approved 3-1 placing the Westside Senior Citizen's Center on the insurance property coverage policy for $350,000 and placing an airplane hanger at Schlemeyer Airport on the insurance policy at a value of $250,000 while allowing placement of the gymnasium for the Juvenile Detention Center on the policy upon completion at a value equal to its construction cost.

Commissioner Greg Simmons voted against the motion, saying he felt the coverage levels were too high.

"I just feel every dollar counts," he said after the meeting.

Commissioners later unanimously denied a request to accept the road of Angel Trail located in the Gunsmoke division. Wade Howell of SW Howell Engineering said commissioners had accepted other roads with similar standards, one course. However, Simmons moved to deny the request until it has two courses, which he said would be up to the standard of the commissioner's court.

"We understand what the rules are now," Howell said.