City may spend more on golf course

Just weeks after raising rates there, the Odessa City Council will look at spending more tax money on Ratliff Ranch Golf Links.

Council members will look at approving $100,000 in hotel-motel tax funds to go toward an advertising and marketing agreement for the course with Timo Creative. Burleson-based Timo beat out Hunt Advertising and CVA Advertising, two Odessa companies, for the contract.

Council members will also vote on buying a total of 78 golf carts for the course at a total cost of $290,033. The money will come from the city’s equipment services fund. According to the council’s information packet, the city feels that buying carts is more beneficial and “provides some cost savings” over a three-year lease, which it currently has.

The council will also consider updating the city’s fleet of vehicles.

Among the new vehicles the city is seeking are two street sweepers for a total of $360,837, five Pak-Mor refuse collection trucks for $353,100, 16 police package vehicles for $331,146 and 13 heavy haul trucks $849,319.

The deal would come with annual supply contracts for parts for refuse trucks for $324,921, automotive and light trucks for $106,000 and freightliner parts for $75,000.

The council also will vote on giving its blessing to two projects already approved by the Odessa Development Corp.

ODC’s board agreed at its Nov. 12 meeting to award $50,000 to provide training grants to local companies in manufacturing, fabrication and distribution fields. ODC will pay for up to $2,000, but no more than half, of the training per employee, which can be used on anything from computer software training to quality management.

Employers would be responsible for paying the other half of the money.

Council members also will vote on approving an extension of an agreement with Gemstar Inc. that will give it another year to add 10 more employees at its fabrication facility at 6501 Trunk St. ODC awarded the company $100,000 in March 2008, but the company says it has delayed hiring on the construction of a $1 million furnace for heat-treating because of setbacks in construction.

In other action, council will consider:

>> Appropriating funding for a $585,091 weatherization grant from the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.

>> A $63,295 bid for traffic signs.

>> Renewing Mueller Inc., Odessa Country Club and ARCO industrial districts.

>> Second and final approval for adding “health and sanitation” to the city code of ordinance “municipal setting designation.”

>> Releasing an easement over an 0.87-acre tract of land for the Chimney Rock development.

>> Renewing long-term disability insurance for $91,000, stop loss insurance for $325,000, group life/AD&D and retiree life insurance for $160,000 and property insurance for $180,426.

>> A public hearing for Leeco Properties to rezone 0.82 acres from single family-one-drill reservation-surface drainage to light commercial at East Loop 338 and Highway 191.

>> A public hearing for W.F.D.R. for original zoning of retail one for 50.1 acres northeast of the intersection of Faudree Road and Dorado Drive.

>> A request from Leeco to rezone 14.1 acres north of the intersection of Faudree Road and Fairway Drive from multifamily two to retail.

>> Amending the city’s “offenses and nuisances” rules to allow for provisions for paintball guns and supervised paintball courses.

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

>> When: 6 p.m. Tuesday.

>> Where: City Hall, fifth floor council chamber, 411 W. Eighth St.

>> Call: 335-3276.