The Ector County Commissioners’ Court is set to discuss ARPA funds on Tuesday for architectural services for discovery, cost analysis, design and construction of a new library.
Ector County Judge Debi Hays on Monday said the funds will come from the $10 million the county set aside for lost revenue.
This agenda item and others will be heard at 10 a.m. at the Ector County Administration Building Annex located in Room 120 at 1010 E. Eighth St. in Odessa.
Hays said the ARPA fund amount set to go to architectural services for discovery, cost analysis, design and construction of a new library is around $200,000. She said there isn’t a definitive amount as the contract would have to go out for bid.
“The cost that we would incur is a step in the process of building a new facility in the downtown area, so it can serve to beautify downtown, it can help grow the downtown area and help keep the library centered and a focal point for families to come to,” Hays said.
The last time the commissioners discussed a new library was during the June 28 meeting when the court heard a lengthy presentation from Julia Prince, director of strategy and operations at the Ivy Group.
During that meeting, Odessa Arts Executive Director Randy Ham said the next step is to settle on a location. Ham said on Monday that a location hasn’t been set in stone and that Tuesday’s agenda item will help the library committee determine where the site could be and what the new library would look like. It was conveyed from the Ivy Group presentation that most current library patrons and stakeholders expressed that they want for the new library to stay downtown.
“As far as Tuesday’s meeting, the funds will help us evaluating site selection, evaluating the square feet needed and associated construction costs, and concept drawings of what a new library could look like,” Ham said on Monday. “We are doing this very methodically, but it’s also kind of piecemeal because at the moment the commissioners haven’t approved a budget for a new library, much less a site for it. We want to make sure that commissioners have as much information as possible in order to make an informed decision.”
The Ector County Library will also ask the commissioners to consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding a new Interlibrary Loan Lending Reimbursement agreement for 2022 from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
The Ector County Sheriff’s Office will ask the commissioners to consider, discuss and take any necessary action to approve an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Odessa and Ector County for the 2022 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Program Award.
According to the Bureau of Justice Assistance website, the joint allocations for the City of Odessa and Ector County this fiscal year was a little more than $87,000. That is nearly triple what the City of Midland and Midland County received ($30,063) and the City of San Angelo and Tom Green County received ($29,646).
The commissioners are also scheduled to speak about three items during executive session, which include legal matters, real estate issues or transactions and personnel matters.
The court will also:
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the Ector County Clerk’s Archive Plan for FY 2022 – 2023 and authorize the County Judge and County Commissioners to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve out of state travel for the 161st District Judge in October 2022.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve the FY 2023 budget for Area Agency on Aging.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on the 2022-2023 Budget for Emergency Communication District of Ector County and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding a request for two cell phones and uniforms for the newly formed Planning and Development Department and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding Ector County’s participation in the Revised Request for Proposal for Electrical Power Supply being issued by Public Power Pool (P3).
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the approval to hire a Contract Tracer at Step 3 beginning September 5, 2022 due to experience.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on Poppy Court Estates a Subdivision of 11.80 acres in Section 7, Block 41, T-1-S, T&P RY. Co. Survey, Ector County, Texas and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on Montoya Addition a Subdivision in Ector County being 2.00 acres in Section 33, Block 43, T-2-S, T&P RWY. Co. Survey, Ector County, Texas and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on TTF Ranch Estates 3rd Filing 10.00 acres in Block 2, TTF Ranch Estates, located in Section 26, Block 44, T-2-S, T&P RR Co. Survey, Ector County, Texas and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on Iron Estates a Subdivision of 19.98 acres being a replat of a portion of Block 3, TTF Ranch Estates, situated in Section 26, Block 44, T-2-S, T & P, RR. Co. Survey Ector County, Texas and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on a proposed MHRC Development to serve 4130 Comanche Road 1.0 acre located in Faith Subdivision Block 1 Lot 1, (Prec. 1) 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, Commissioner Precinct 3, Office Supplies, 001-023-5171 from Educational Travel, 001-023-5161 for $107. B. Consider, discuss, and approve a line item transfer to General Fund, Emergency Management, Educational Travel, 001-890-5161 from Office Supplies, 001-890-5171 for $101. C. Consider, discuss, and approve a line item transfer to General Fund, IT, Subscriptions, 001-310-5207 from Non Departmental, Other General Expense, 001-950-5402 for $31,366. >> Consider, discuss, and approve a budget amendment to 2017 Jail Expansion Fund, Special Department Equipment, 047-420-5507 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 047-3310 for $13,125. >> Consider, discuss, and approve a budget amendment to Law Library Fund, New Books, 003-700-5201 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 003-3310 for $5,944.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the Ector County Monthly Treasurer’s Reports for June 2022 and July 2022 and authorize the County Judge and County Commissioners to sign.
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to propose an Ad Valorem Tax Rate for Ector County for 2022-2023 and if said tax rate is higher than the effective rate to set the time and date of the required hearings.
>> Consider and approve the Accounts Payable Fund Requirements Report for August 23, 2022 to review County financial statements and reports.
