County makes ARPA decisions; MCH a no go

Water improvements, volunteer fire departments receive most money

During Wednesday’s budget meeting, the Ector County Commissioners’ Court discussed and allocated funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act.

The commissioners approved allocations, which will mainly fund water districts and volunteer fire departments, of a little more than $20 million with a vote of 4-1.

The breakdown of funds include $10 million for the Ector County Utility District, $4.5 million to Greater Gardendale Water, $1.94 million to the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department and South Ector County Volunteer Fire Department, and $900,000 for Gardendale Volunteer Fire Department and Goldsmith Volunteer Fire Department.

The Odessa American previously reported the Commissioners’ Court reimbursed the county $10 million, which is the maximum allowable according to the Treasury for counties of this size, and about $1 million has been used for IT improvements in the courthouse.

Mike Gardner, the commissioner for Precinct 1, addressed the ARPA funds allocation after the budget meetings ended.

“I represent the people of Precinct 1 and I look at that need and does Precinct 1 come out better in this deal than any place, it sure does,” Gardner said. “We are going to put about $12 million of that money out there.”

The lone dissenting vote came from Armando Rodriguez, the lame duck commissioner for Precinct 4. He explained during the meeting that he voted against the allocation as he believed ARPA funds should have been discussed publicly.

“The only reason I’m going to vote against it is because I think (we) should give the courtesy to the public to give their opinion,” Rodriguez said during the meeting.

The Odessa American asked Ector County Judge Debi Hays whether the allocation vote should have taken place during Tuesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

“We addressed it (Wednesday), because it’s part of our budget and being able to more forward with those monies, so it’s best distributed to those that will benefit a majority of the people in the county,” Hays said. “I cannot think of a better way to spend that money that will create jobs, improve infrastructure and save lives.”

GOP County Judge Elect Dustin Fawcett addressed the commissioners court that ARPA funds are a unique bucket for long-term investments and he’s wary of large allocations of money.

“If we get rid of all this money now, we are doing ourselves a disservice for long-term planning due to the short-term needs,” Fawcett said as he addressed the Court.

According to a document drafted by Hays, an agency receiving ARPA funds of more than $1 million needs to provide a financial statement and recent audit report. The Commissioners’ Court has until 2026 to distribute the more than $20 million.

The Odessa American previously reported that Medical Center Hospital requested $7 million for staffing and supplies. The hospital didn’t receive any ARPA funds.

Commissioners also heard from the county attorney, environmental enforcement, medical examiner’s office and library.

The commissioners also approved when to a pay out a cost-of-living adjustment. The county’s COLA is scheduled to be paid out the first paycheck in November while the longevity payment will be the first paycheck in December.

To be eligible for COLA, a person must be employed by the county before the start of the new fiscal year, which is Oct. 1.

Wednesday’s budget talks kicked off with the county attorney’s office, which had been acting as an office of one for the last year, has been approved to hire two employees. County Attorney Lee McClendon has been OK’ed to hire an assistant county attorney and an administrative assistant.

Commissioners then spoke with Rickey George, the director of Ector County Environmental Enforcement and Ector County Emergency Management coordinator, who asked the commissioners for a roll-off truck that would cost $200,000. Hays suggested the commissioners ask companies that have been approved for recent tax abatements.

However, the most time spent during environmental enforcement budget talks was when George petitioned the commissioners to increase the pay for three of the four environment investigators.

George and Gardner offered to give up their 4% increase and COLA bonus to give those raises. The motion, which was initiated by Gardner and seconded by Precinct 4 commissioner Armando Rodriguez, failed 3-2. The proposed budget was approved 3-2.

Gardner said he believes environmental enforcement doesn’t receive fair treatment. He also said he wasn’t going to accept the pay increase anyway.

“(Environmental Enforcement) is so much about my area,” Gardner said. “… You go back as far as when my dad was county commissioner, he started this deal. He was the one who got this started, because he saw the need. There wasn’t law enforcement agencies going out and enforcing the law of illegal dumping. In order to curb that and turn it around, this group was formed. I want to support them.”

Ron Inge, the chief investigator for the medical examiner’s office, explained to the commissioners that Ector County’s autopsies are going through Texas Panhandle Forensics.

Inge said those results are taking three to four weeks instead of three to four months when the medical examiner’s office used South Plains Forensic Pathology.