This is to all the folks in West Odessa mainly Ector County Utility District.
In early 2021, ECUD learned of available funds that could be received from the federal government called A.R.P.A. ECUD inquired and was told to get a project together and apply. We did!
In September 2021, I went in front of the Commissioner’s court and explained $5.23 million dollars of shovel ready projects. A few days later, Commissioner Mike Gardner asked, “is that all you got, get more projects and apply”. By early 2022, ECUD gave Commissioners a list of projects of over $13 million dollars. Commissioners cut that to 10 million dollars. Commissioners voted 5-0 for ECUD to proceed with the process of moving the ECUD projects forward.
A committee of representatives from ECUD, Ector County Purchasing, Ector County Finance and other Ector County departments chose Kimley-Horn as engineer for these ARPA projects.
In a Commissioner’s Court meeting on October 10th, Commissioners Mike Gardner, Don Stringer, and Greg Simmons voted YES on a contract between Ector County and Kimley-Horn. Your Ector County Judge Fawcett and your County Commissioner Billy Hall voted NO on this contract.
ECUD customers as well as hundreds of potential ECUD customers located along thousands of feet of new water lines will soon have access to water.
Three days later, after Commissioner Mike Gardner was “confronted” about his vote, he changed his mind.
HELLO….West Odessans needing water! Now I hear that Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett refuses to sign the Engineering Contract. He wants that money for water services to folks that claim, “they can’t afford a $2,550.00 service tap” and Commissioner Billy Hall seems to agree.
In my opinion, maybe 20 homes in ECUD service area with a water line next to their property and only 75% of poverty level will qualify for low or no-cost water taps, so let Ector County finance these customers. These two (Fawcett and Hall) and now Gardner, want to help 20 homes with maybe 86 people instead of moving forward with the 2-year ARPA planning that would allow hundreds of homes and thousands of West Odessans access to water.
I have worked with water issues in West Odessa since the early 60’s. I have worked with ECUD since 1979 and been on the ECUD board since 2007. As a “VOLUNTEER”, I have spent thousands of hours for ECUD, spent thousands of dollars of my own money without asking for reimbursement by ECUD.
Please contact your County Commissioner and plan to attend the next Commissioners Court meeting
Please contact your County Commissioner and plan to attend the next Commissioners Court meeting at 1010 E. 8th at 10am on October 24th, 2023.
Sincerely, Tommy Ervin
