Pagers up for approval

The county's volunteer firefighters are paging Ector County commissioners for help.

The West Odessa, South Ector County, Gardendale and Goldsmith volunteer fire departments have been without pager service since a lightning strike destroyed their system two weeks ago, West Odessa Chief Jimmy Ellis said. The departments are asking commissioners for around $30,000 to pay for a new pager system at Monday's meeting.

"Until we can get that approved, we're working strictly off our radios," Ellis said.

And the system the firefighters had wasn't the greatest anyway. Ellis said it was more than 15 years old.

"It's obsolete," he said. "You can't even find parts for it."

The loss of pagers is just the latest obstacle for the 28-member West Odessa crew. Ellis said it's faced dry conditions this year and had to make more than 200 runs already.

In other action, commissioners will consider:

>> Approving the fiscal year 2009-2010 budget calendar.

>> Vending machine proposals.

>> Proposal specifications on cleanup of illegal dumpsites.

>> Bank bid specifications.

>> A Victim Coordinator Liaison Grant application.

>> A contract with the Texas Department of State Health Services to provide immunization services.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING

>> What: Meeting of the Ector County Commissioners Court.

>> When: 10 a.m.

>> Where: Commissioners Courtroom, Ector County Administration Building Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St.

>> Call: 498-4000.