Working together

The age-old issue of the location of the UTPB campus came up from an audience member Thursday night at the John Ben Shepperd Summer Lecture Series.

"I will be glad when the day comes when no one asks that question," Midland Mayor Wes Perry said. Both Perry and Odessa Mayor Larry Melton agreed that such dated issues of intercity contention should be dropped.

And that is exactly what they did at the lecture.

At a lecture series titled, "Midland-Odessa: Into the New Millennium Together," Mayor Perry of Midland and Mayor Melton of Odessa discussed issues that they can work on together to improve economic and cultural diversification as a joint effort.

The lecture hall at the UTPB CEED building overflowed into a room across the hall that offered a live simulcast of the lecture.

"The program is more popular than anticipated," Perry said. He said he feared there would be a lower turnout considering the big names that lectured in the past for the JBS Series.

The two mayors discussed current issues such as the oil boom, and if the leaders were "keeping an eye on the economic diversification ball" if the economy were to slow in the future, Lorraine Perryman, ex-mayor of Odessa, said. Perryman guided the discussion all evening.

"We can plan for the worst and hope for the best," Perry said.

Also guiding the discussion was former Midland mayor and current JBS leader Bobby Burns. "The problem is infrastructure: housing and employees. Are there joint efforts for this?" Burns said.

Other issues discussed were jurisdiction and annexation. The subdivision, Mission Dorado, is in Odessa City limits but in Midland County. Residents pay taxes for both, but there is confusion as to which fire department would show up.

This is a perfect example of how the cities can work together, Perryman said.

They discussed working together on water supply, development (particularly on 191), drilling permits and public transportation.

However, Melton reminded the audience that there is still a lot of catching up to do with the new additional funds from the boom in the city of Odessa before they can move forward.

David Boutin, president of the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, said he thought what these two leaders were doing tonight was great. He enjoyed watching how they were interacting on such issues.

"If we decide what we want to do, and work together, then its possible," Perry said.