28-05-2025
5 named to lead emergency services districts
May 27—Ector County commissioners on Tuesday named the five Ector County residents who will govern the newly-formed Ector County Emergency Services Districts 1 and 2.
The May 3 election gave the green light to the creation of Ector County Emergency Districts 1 and 2. Emergency Services District Prop A, (fire) got 762 for and 711 against. For proposition B for EMS, 749 voted for and 704 against. The election imposes a property tax that will be used to fund emergency services for county residents. The approval means a property tax increase for residents outside of the city limits but in Ector County. But it also means the possibility of faster response times for emergency services to those in the far flung areas of Ector County.
County Judge Dustin Fawcett previously praised the citizen-led effort to get better emergency services. "It was an incredible effort led by citizens ... about how to solve the issue," he said. "I'm proud of the citizens and this was truly a county-wide effort with the community turning out."
The commissioners named Patti Kappauf, Heather Burks, Randy Lightfoot, Kevin Searcy and John Turner to the governing board of the newly-formed district. The five will oversee both the A and B portions of the district. Members will later be elected by residents in the county. Fawcett said eight people applied.
Commissioners also heard several presentations including one from a Kimley-Horn representative regarding the Permian Basin Regional Planning Commissions' Safety Action Plan for the Safe Streets for All Program.
West County Road and State Highway 385 are both areas with a high number of major accidents. Many are caused by speeding, failure to yield the right of way and cars pulling out of driveways. The representative indicated Ector County and the City of Odessa can eventually apply for federal funding to address some of the areas that are the most deadly.
Commissioners also heard a presentation from Brandon Westlake regarding the M-Bar Ranch Energy Project. The project is a wind energy project that sits in both Ector and Andrews counties. The project could be solar and wind and could eventually host a battery storage system or a data center.
The group has not yet asked for tax abatements but will address the matter during a future meeting.
One project in Andrews is a 240 megawatt for wind and generated almost $1 million in property taxes to Andrews ISD last year.
The court also unanimously approved:
— An invitation for Bid Specifications for Seal Coat Aggregate II, Project No. 2025-IFB-087.
— Awarded for the Diesel-Powered Aircraft Ground Power Unit for IFB No. 2025- IFB-077, to AERO Specialties.
— Accepted several grants including the Dollar General Literacy Foundation Grant to the Ector County Library in the amount of $3,000 for summer reading books to give away. Also, the Texas Library Association/H-E-B Summer At The Library Grant to the Ector County Library in the amount of $1,350.
— Commissioners also approved the survey cost/fee estimate associated with the future outer loop and donated land to house the future South Ector Volunteer Fire Department. The land is at FM 866 and Interstate 20. The land was donated by Rockhound Solar. Part of it will also eventually be home to a gun range for the Ector County Sheriff's Department.
— Commissioners moved the decision to hire a human resources director to executive session and then in open session named Delia Ortiz to the position.
— Commissioners agreed to raise the fees in the Ector County Library Rotary Room and Auditorium as the current rates are from 2003. They agreed to change the fees for the Rotary Room from $7.50/day to $25/hour and to increase the Auditorium from $15/day to $50/hour.
