The Ector County Commissioners Court is scheduled to hear a variety of matters during its regularly scheduled Tuesday meeting, which includes lifting a burn ban that has been in place since March.
The Court will also discuss adopting the budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year and the new Ad Valorem Tax Rate.
These items and more will be discussed at 10 a.m. in the commissioners courtroom at the Ector County Administration Annex, Room 120, 1010 East Eighth St.
Ector County’s burn ban was voted into place on March 22 and extended on June 28.
At the beginning of August, the precipitation was 2.23 inches for the year. That changed over the last month as CBS7 has reported more than 4 inches of precipitation during that time, while average temperatures have dropped by 7 degrees Fahrenheit.
“The commissioners office has been receiving a multitude of phone calls if the burn ban has been lifted because of the increase in rainfall that we had during August,” Ector County Judge Debi Hays said over the phone on Monday afternoon. “Based on the rainfall that we had and the conditions throughout the county, we feel that it is safe to lift this burn ban after speaking with (Odessa Fire Rescue) and volunteer fire departments.”
According to a map provided by the Texas A&M Forest Service, as of Sept. 9, all of the surrounding counties to Ector have burn bans. The closest counties that don’t have burn bans are Loving, Reeves and Pecos.
Texas A&M Forest Service also lowered the Wildland Fire Preparedness Level to Level 1 on Sept. 6. Texas A&M Forest Service details on its website “Preparedness Levels are dictated by fuel and weather conditions, fire activity and fire suppression resource availability. Level 5 is the highest level of wildland fire activity and indicates heavy resource commitment to fires locally.”
Commissioners will also consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to adopt the Ector County Budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. Ector County Auditor Randy Donner estimated the 2022-23 budget sits at $67,889,000, which is about a $2 million increase from what was estimated before budget hearings began on Aug. 1. Donner said there isn’t one major cause of the increase, but a bunch of items added up.
The Court will also consider, discuss and take any necessary action to adopt the 2022-2023 Ad Valorem Tax Rate for Ector County. The Ad Valorem Tax Rate is set to go from .365 to .350. The county held its required hearing for the rate change last week as the rate will still bring in more revenue than the previous year due to rising valuations.
The court will also:
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the use of the parking lot at the Ector County Coliseum on Sept. 18 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. for a drive thru Pay What You Can Afford vaccination clinic.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the utilization of the courthouse lawn and sally port on Sept. 24 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. for West Texas Fest.
>> Accept a donation of $4,385.16 from Law Enforcement Partners to the Ector County Sheriff’s Office.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the price increase on Paper Towels and Bathroom Tissue II (Proposal # 20-11-13-01); and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding a Master Service Agreement between Lexipol and Ector County and authorize the County Judge to sign. >> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding a contract between Permian Basin Community Centers DBA PermiaCare and Ector County for jail based medical services and continuity of care services and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding a contract between Permian Basin Community Centers DBA PermiaCare and Ector County for Mental Health Deputy Services and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding Change Order #2 for 67th Street Improvements PO#: 38409 and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item. >> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding reclassification of Engineering Technician position to Construction Inspector and adjust budget accordingly. >> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to authorize road improvements on County Road 307 (S. Wheeler Road) as presented in the Paving & Drainage Construction Plans designed by Landgraf, Crutcher & Associates dated August 8, 2022 and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to accept a donation of public road improvements for the upgrade of S. Wheeler road by Oxy Low Carbon Venture (OLSV’s) and to accept maintenance of the public portion roadway after completion, and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding plans, schedule and estimate for 0.27 mi of C&G along north Sycamore Drive Curb & Gutter along Sycamore Drive, and to engage Landgraf, Crutcher & Associated (LCA) to provide all necessary PS&E for a fee of $28,140.00 and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on a Proposed MHRC Development to serve 183 Soto Avenue 1.0 acre located in Soto Subdivision Blk 1, Lot 4 (Prec. 1) Ector County, Texas, Joel Talamantes and authorize the County Judge to sign. Eddie Landrum – Planning & Development 15.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on a Proposed MHRC Development to serve 15635 W. Nugget – Muniz 10.3 Acres, Sect 26, Blk 44 (Prec. 1) Ector County, Texas and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on Larenda Addition being a replat of Lot 3, Block 6, Gardendale Subdivision Ector County Texas and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Review, consider, discuss, approve, and take any necessary action regarding the following proposed Consent Agenda: A. Consider, discuss, and approve a line item transfer on General Fund, Senior Centers, Special Department Equipment, 001-630-5507 from Contract Services, 001-630-5309 for $5,600. B. Consider, discuss, and approve a line item transfer to General Fund, Cemetery, Equipment Maintenance & Repairs, 001-720-5247 from Special Department Equipment, 001-720-5507 for $7,500. C. Consider, discuss, and approve a line item transfer to General Fund, Animal Control, Uniform Supplies, 001-361-5176 for $ 982, to Animal Supplies & Expense, 001-361-5198 for $2,500 from Sheriff, Departmental Furniture & Equipment, 001-360-5199 for $3,482.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a budget amendment to General Fund, Library, Library Supplies, 001-690-5185 and to Donated Revenues, 001-4171 for $5,000.
>> Consider and approve the Accounts Payable Fund Requirements Report for September 13, 2022 to review County financial statements and reports.
