Pool permits

The pool party for apartment complexes and hotels in the area will now have a cover charge.

About 95 public and semi-public pools in Odessa and Ector County will now need to pass inspection by the Ector County Health Department, after county commissioners voted to implement a $100 annual permit fee. Health department director Gino Solla said the fee will cover multiple pools on a single property and will not apply to homes with private pools.

Solla said similar-sized communities in West Texas have already been implementing the fees.

Lubbock has a fee of $300 per pool or spa. Midland has a fee of $75, but Solla said it plans to raise the fee.

Currently, Solla said the county could have to go to court in order to shut down a pool found to carry waterborne illnesses.

The motion passed by a 4-0 vote.

"I think this is something that we need to do," Commissioner Freddie Gardner said. "It takes a long time to perform this service."

Commissioner Armando Rodriguez agreed.

"It should've been done a long time ago, huh?" he asked Solla, who concurred.

Commissioners also voted to assist the city of Goldsmith in purchasing and installing street and traffic control signs there. Gardner said an interlocal agreement allows the county to supply labor and materials and be reimbursed for services.

"Goldsmith has two people that take care of all of their situations out there," he said. "They really don't have the manpower to take care of their signs. They're in really bad shape."

Goldsmith, located in northwestern Ector County, had 253 people as of the 2000 Census.

In other action, commissioners approved:

>> Accepting a donation of $200 for departmental equipment for the Ector County Sheriff's Office from Orlando Parra of Sonic location No. 3815.

>> Approving the 2008 Annual List of Gifts and Memorial to the Ector County Library.

>> Amending the bylaws for the Ector County Airport Board to disqualify airport employees from being eligible for service on the board, a requirement of some of the airport grants the county has received.

>> The appointment of Sifredo Rodriguez to the Ector County Historical Commission for January 2009 to January 2011.

>> The appointments of Martha Fierro, Cleopatra Anderson, Joyce Thompson, Lou Serrano, Joni Wright, Maribea Merritt, Lisa Sertuche, David Peck, Michael Marrero and Emma Hudgins to the Ector County Anti-Discrimination and Harassment Policy Executive Committee for 2009.

>> The appointments of Annette Snowden, Mary Jo Toomire, Shane Marler, Dennis Bright and Zulma Ramirez to the City/County Complete Count Committee for the U.S. Census Bureau.

>> Bid specifications for asphalt patching material, asphaltic material, graded base material and seal coat aggregate.

>> Buying a 20-yard bottom dump material transport trailer for $25,650.

>> Line item transfers of $2,505 from department furniture and equipment to building materials and $285 from professional duties and fees to office supplies.

>> Budget amendments of $417 to office supplies from unreserved fund balance and $1,782 to department furniture and equipment from unreserved fund balance.

>> Taking a complaint against View Systems Inc. back in-house. County Judge Susan Redford said the move was made to save money.

>> The commissioners didn't take action on appointing a replacement for retired Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Dennis Bright. Redford said applications, which numbered around 20, were still being reviewed.

 Here is a list of the Odessans who have applied for the open Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace position, followed by their current occupation:

>> Christopher Clark, assistant county attorney.

>> Clayton Gamble, senior technical services with Buckeye Inc.

>> Weldon Glass, manager with Sand Sales Co. Inc.

>> Michael Glenn, plant operator with Flint Hills Resources.

>> Larry Jackson, sales representative with Lithia Toyota.

>> Jeremy Kessler, no job history included.

>> David Lewallen, vice president and general manager of Commercial Ice Machine Co.

>> Tammy Martin, office/parts manager for L.L.T. Inc.

>> Carolyn O'Keefe, customer service adviser with Flint Hills Resources.

>> Sally Osborn, photographer and bookkeeper with Yellow Wood Photography.

>> Travis Overton, owner of Med-Tech Transport Services LLC.

>> Vicki Sisco, legal assistant with Rush, Kelly, Morgan, Denis.

>> Nicholas Stuart, sales and marketing associate with Trugreen.

>> Terry Tyree, legal work for various attorneys.

>> Lucas Westfall, owner of LotusGFX.

>> Merry Worley, attorney.