Youth gym; senior centers

After nearly nine years of debate, county commissioners on Monday secured funding for Ector County Youth Center's proposed indoor gym.

Commissioners unanimously voted to cap their funding pledge at $800,000 for the facility that will serve juvenile offenders housed at the center. Ector County's juvenile board will contribute another $400,000 toward the project, making a total of $1.2 million available.

"We feel pretty good," said Lou Serrano, Ector County Youth Center director.

Larry Johnson of Johnson Seefeldt Architects, the firm charged with drawing up architectural plans for the gym, has said the facility was proposed as far back as 1999, but the project wasn't a priority for past commissioners courts. County Judge Susan Redford has said commissioners allocated $800,000 in taxpayer dollars for the gym in the 2008 budget, the same number they stuck with Monday.

"We agreed we would go ahead with the full $800,000 that was pledged," Redford said. "I believe that puts us where we need to be, and the project can now continue."

Redford and commissioners put the breaks on funding the gym April 14, when preliminary architectural plans, with a price tag of about $1.5 million, were submitted for approval. They wanted to know how to pare down costs, including switching from a concrete to a metal-building structure.

Funding was stalled, and Johnson was asked to come back to the commissioners court with cheaper options. The final plan for the gym's construction is still pending, but Serrano said Monday that since the April 14 meeting, the project has been scaled back quite a bit.

He's now looking at plans that would bring construction costs in under $1 million.

Serrano said getting the commissioners' final decision on funding couldn't come at a better time, since new state mandates will requite juvenile facilities to offer indoor recreation by September 2009.

In other action, commissioners tabled a vote on Westside Senior Center building plans. A new, 60-by-65-foot building was proposed back in 2004 to replace the cramped, one-room space in the Kellus Turner Community Center Westside patrons use today.

Commissioners will instead start forming a committee to explore the idea of consolidating all three of Odessa's senior centers into one central location.

After receiving a report from Northside Senior Center Director Joyce Thompson, Redford said she wasn't sure if the average daily attendance at Westside warranted a new building. About six people frequent the facility daily.

Committee members will look at consolidation and whether or not seniors think that's a good idea. They will also look at ways to increase current participation at the county's three centers.

"I would like to see us look at possibilities to attract more participation and go from there," Redford said.

COMMISSIONERS TABLED:

>> A request by the director of building maintenance to reclassify one part-time custodial position into one full-time custodial position so additional hours may cover the on-site medical clinic.

>> The transfer of $229,862 from various funds to cover start-up costs for the new CareHere employee clinic until accounting technicalities can be worked out. They have planned a special meeting to address the issue at 1:30 p.m. Friday.

>> A look at a comp time report.

COMMISSIONERS APPROVED:

>> The reappointment of Debbie Clay to a two-year term on the Permian Basin Community Centers Board effective June 27.

>> A proclamation dedicating 2008 to "Colon Cancer Prevention and Awareness Year" in Ector County. 

>> The offsite use of a coliseum stage by Main Street Odessa in the production of the 2008 Fourth of July Fireworks Fandango.

>> A variance from the Ector County burn ban for the Ector County Sheriff's Office to burn evidence from disposed cases.

>> A $4,000 donation for fuel and minor vehicle repairs for the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department.

>> The Ector County Investment Policy with no revisions or changes except to approve American State Bank/Raymond James and Associates Inc. as an allowable investment.

>> A request for proposal to look into a new auditor for the review of health claims made on county health insurance.  

>> Bid specifications on Ector County Courthouse plumbing line replacement.

>> The extension of an award, at the same terms and conditions, for temporary personnel service for one year.

>> A renewal notice agreement with Appriss, the certified Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) vendor, for fiscal year 2009 for $30,108.

>> A submission of application to TxDOT for a Click it or Ticket grant.

>> A memorandum of understanding and a cost-reimbursement agreement between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Ector County Sheriff's Office.

>> Change order #4 to Coliseum HVAC Project and grant a one-month extension to contract.

>> The renewal of hardware maintenance contract for IBM RS/6000 and IBM Tape Autoloader.

>> A pay raise for a county employee who obtained a Masters of Library Science degree.

>> The following line item transfers: $12,000 from motor vehicle equipment to motor vehicle repairs for the recondition of bump bed hydraulic systems; $3000 from equipment maintenance and repairs to contract services; $964 from sign materials to educational travel.

>> Reimbursing the county judge for $307 from administrative travel.

>> Funds collected by the District Attorney's Office as a result of drug investigations and convictions.

>> The Ector County Investment Report for the quarter ending March 31.

>> The Accounts Payable Fund Requirements Report for May 12.