During its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday morning, the Ector County Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved for the Juvenile Justice Center to go back out for bid.
The Juvenile Justice Center, which was OK’d through $25 million in certificates of obligation, was trimmed down from 64 to 32 beds and areas planned for post adjudication have been eliminated.
Ector County Commissioner for Precinct 2 Greg Simmons initiated the vote, while Ector County Commissioner for Precinct 4 Armando Rodriguez seconded. Simmons told the Odessa American after the meeting that he wanted to see what bids would look like for the trimmed down facility.
“It doesn’t meet the original intent of what we were hoping to get for the department, but it would be at least a more updated and in-compliance facility,” Simmons said. “… Hopefully, maybe with the new year, there will be more in the market for construction.”
On Nov. 8, a representative from HOK Architects spoke to the Court about the trimmed down facility that would cost about $26 million, which is still about $1 million over budget.
Ector County Youth Center Director Kevin Mann said regardless of if the facility is 64 beds or 32 beds, the pod system that would be featured in the new facility will help staff and children that are being housed there. Mann also explained there will be the ability to add additional pods in the future if needed.
“The 32 beds, which is what we operate now, that will continue over to the new building,” Mann said. “Operationally that’s where we need to be and I’m hearing there’s interest in this one. ”
Rodriguez said he believes with upgraded facilities and a safer environment that will show children who are there a light at the end of the tunnel.
“We need something better for the youth,” Rodriguez sad. “The facility that they are in right now is not updated.”
The Court will also approved the subrecipient agreement with Gardendale Volunteer Fire Department, Goldsmith Volunteer Fire Department and South Ector County Volunteer Fire Department to receive ARPA funds. Ector County Commissioner for Precinct 1 Mike Gardner requested the subrecipient agreements for the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department and Ector County Utility District be moved to the final meeting of the calendar year on Dec. 16.
During its annual budget meetings on Aug. 3, the Court approved ARPA funds for the South Ector County Volunteer Fire Department to receive $1.94 million, while the Gardendale Volunteer Fire Department and the Goldsmith Volunteer Fire Department will each receive $900,000.
Simmons said these funds are much needed as a majority of the funds that all three volunteer fire department use come from donations.
“When a bulk of your money comes from volunteer donations, you can’t really upgrade your equipment,” Simmons said. “They may raise enough to buy new tires for a truck or something like that. There’s only so many pancake breakfasts that you can have.
“For them, this is a game changer. This will allow them to buy some much needed newer equipment. It doesn’t have to be brand new equipment, but at least newer than what they got.”
The court also:
>> Approved the reappointment of Bill Ritter, Winston Kenworthy, Mark Merritt, Travis Fisher, and David Donham as members of the Ector County Airport Advisory Board to serve a two-year term ending Dec. 31, 2024.
>> Approved appointing Commissioner Greg Simmons to the Tax Incentive Committee and authorize the County Judge and County Commissioners to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved action regarding the purchase of two Chevrolet Tahoes.
>> Approved action on the updated Missing Assets and the Disposal Lists from the 2022 Fixed Asset Inventory.
>> Approved action regarding the following bid: Fire Extinguisher Services (Bid #22-11-23-01), and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved action regarding the contract renewal for 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.
>> Approved action to approve a subscription agreement with the event management software company Planning Pod and authorize the County Judge to and Coliseum Director to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved action regarding upgrade to OMNIGO software and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Approved action regarding the renewal of a Master Agency Agreement between Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc. (“AMS”) and Ector County and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Approved action to approve the 2023 Ector County Resolution Indigent Defense Grant Program and authorize the County Judge to sign.
>> Approved action regarding Change Orders #6 & #7 for Moss Mill & Overlay and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved action regarding Change Orders #4 and #5 for the West Apple Street Road Project and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved action on Poppy Addition 1.025 Acres Section 7, Block 41, T-1-S and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved action on Plumanearly Subdivision, 4th Filing a Replat of Lot 1 & S. 381.62 feet of Lots 2, Block 21 Subdivision, 3rd Filing in Section 6, Block 43, T-2-S and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved the final line item transfers for fiscal year 2022 and to authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved the final year-end budget amendments for fiscal year 2022 and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> Approved various budget amendments for the carry forward of outstanding encumbrances from FY 2022 to FY 2023.
>> Approved the Accounts Payable Fund Requirements Report for Dec. 6, 2022, to review county financial statements and reports.
