HOK Architects is set to open Tuesday’s regularly scheduled Ector County Commissioners’ Court to discuss the juvenile detention center.
In June 2021, the commissioners OK’d negotiating with HOK Architects to build a new $25-million juvenile detention center near the law enforcement center in south Odessa on the west side of U.S. 385.
Ector County Judge Debi Hays said on Monday morning that HOK Architects will give recommendations about the juvenile detention center. Hays said this agenda item is a presentation from HOK Architects and it won’t be voted on.
“Because of the cost of material goods skyrocketing and effecting the cost of building the juvenile center, (HOK Architects) wants to make a presentation on recommendations they would make on how to stay within budget, but deliver us all the things that we need,” Hays said.
This agenda item and others will be heard at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Ector County Administration Building Annex located in Room 120 at 1010 E. Eighth St. in Odessa.
Ector County Youth Center Director Kevin Mann said he expects cuts to the originally planned facility, but he knows the a new juvenile detention center will create a safer environment for those housed there and the staff that monitors them.
“No matter the bed number, even if it’s 32 beds, what gets fixed is the layout of the building,” Mann said. “It’s safer and it’s more secure. You are going to that pod system where it’s one staff member to eight kids. You are able to separate the kids. You are able to a classify the kids. You are able to put your highest risk kids in one pod. Your lower risk in another. You can separate by gender. You can separate by risk factor. You can’t do here (now) because it’s an open format. All the kids are out together and they are all mixed. That’s what this new building solves is the number one thing — safety and security.”
The Odessa American previously reported in August that zero contractors bid on the proposed juvenile detention center.
In the article, Ector County Purchasing Director Lucy Soto said that not only did the facility fail to attract any contractors, but those contractors who spoke with her informally said there is no way the county can build the facility for the $25 million that has been budgeted.
Hays hopes the recommendations from HOK Architects will help push the juvenile detention center into taking shape.
“It’s a slow process, but it’s a process that’s going in the right direction,” she said.
Ector County Sheriff Mike Griffis will ask the Court to approve the purchase of 20 HI LITE Bulletproof vests and one Kinetic Breaching Technology tool.
Griffis said during a phone interview on Monday morning the bulletproof vests he’s asking for are about $900 a piece. He said there are 19 deputies that are wearing bulletproof vests that aren’t fitted for them.
As far as the kinetic breaching tool, Griffis said it costs $10,000. Griffis said, after the initial cost of the breaching tool, it uses .45 caliber blanks that are about $30 per box.
“That piece of equipment is pretty impressive,” he said. “… It will save a lot of time instead of manually trying to break the doors that we might need to get into.”
The court will also:
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a resolution authorizing the annual County grant for Odessa Meals on Wheels and a budget amendment to General Fund, Economic Development, Other General Expense, 001-330 5402 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 001-3310 for $218.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the purchase of one Kinetic Breaching Technology tool.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the Cyber Security Training procedure, and to allow Bianka Lopez to be the TAC Cyber Security Administrator.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to appoint Commissioner Mike Gardner to the Policy Board for the Permian Basin Metropolitan Planning Organization and authorize the County Judge and County Commissioners to sign any all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to appoint Commissioner Mike Gardner to the MOTRAN Board (Midland-Odessa Transportation Alliance, Inc.) and authorize the County Judge and County Commissioners to sign any and all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to appoint Commissioner Greg Simmons to the Odessa Partnership Board and authorize the County Judge and County Commissioners to sign any and all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to appoint Commissioner Greg Simmons to be the Ector County representative for the Stakeholder Meetings hosted by ORMC.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the contract with Kofile for the plat preservation project that was approved for FY 22-23 to be funded from the Record Archive Fund and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding pay increase at Step 7 for the Sheriff’s Office Administrative Assistant.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the revised Internet Use Policy for Ector County.
>> Consider, discuss, and approve a FY 2023 budget amendment to General Fund, County Court At Law #2, Departmental Furniture & Equipment, 001-150-5199 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 001-3310 for $1,316.
>> Consider, discuss, and approve a FY 2023 budget amendment to Law Library, New Books, 003-700-5201 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 003-3310 for $6,000.
>> Consider, discuss, and approve a FY 2023 budget amendment to Sales Tax Fund, Animal Control, New Building, 005-361-5503 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 005-3310 for $25,000.
>> Consider, discuss, and to approve a FY 2023 budget amendment to General Fund, Library, Subscriptions, 001-690-5207 and to Library E Rate Revenue, 001-4115 for $12,884.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the Ector County Monthly Treasurer’s Reports for June 2022 and July 2022 and to request that the reports be filed with the official minutes of this meeting and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the Ector County Monthly Treasurer’s Reports for August 2022 and September 2022 and to request that the reports be filed with the official minutes of this meeting and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider and approve the Accounts Payable Fund Requirements Report for November 8, 2022 to review County financial statements and reports.
