Latest news with #EmergencyServicesDistricts
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
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.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
County to canvass votes, discuss library
May 12—Ector County Commissioners this week will canvass vote totals and take action on the creation of Emergency Services Districts 1 and 2 created by the recent election as well as discuss the library. The meeting is scheduled at 10 a.m. Tuesday for the commissioners court at the Courthouse Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St. The court will canvass votes on Wednesday. Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett said the court will write an order to create Emergency Service Districts 1 and 2 Wednesday and send that to the Ector County Appraisal District. A meeting on May 27 will be held for the court to appoint a board to govern the districts. He said about 10 people have applied for the volunteer governing slots and applications are still being accepted for those wanting to serve on the board that will eventually be elected. He said qualified people will live in the county, must be 18 and a qualified voter. The court will also assess what the nature of the interest of applicants is and appoint the five members. The appointed board will govern both districts. Commissioners will also hear from the Ector County Library Foundation about a new library construction project. In November 2024 the court voted unanimously to earmark $10 million for the new library, which is scheduled to sit at the site of the current Ector County Health Department. Fawcett said the Foundation is in a capital campaign for the project and must raise more than half of the projected cost. On Tuesday, they are being asked to approve the $10 million county portion of the build. In other business Fawcett will ask the court to vote for a resolution to freeze property tax rates for senior citizens over 65 and the disabled. He said the county currently has an exemption of $25,000 for seniors and $3,000 for the disabled but this proposal will put a ceiling or a freeze on what those groups currently pay. "It will be frozen at the 2025 number and won't ever go up but can go down," he said adding that as Odessans reach age 65 their rates will also be frozen. "Lots of people live on a fixed income and ... I would rather freeze it for them ... That is better policy," Fawcett added. The agenda details the court will also discuss videoconferencing for the court. Currently, elected court members can video conference in to meetings but cannot vote. They must be in person to vote, something Fawcett said he believes is important. He said the county would likely have to purchase new technology and software to allow all members to be visible on the screen during a meeting where someone is dialing in remote. "I am not in favor of getting new technology when we just upgraded ... not a good use of tax dollars. I know sometimes we all have unforeseen circumstances and have to miss, but the meetings are the only requirement and are just twice a month, not including budget hearings or special meetings." Commissioners will go into executive session for discussions about legal matters and the hiring of an HR leader. Following that executive session commissioners will begin public meetings about the new courthouse as it heads into the design-build phase. Fawcett said citizens who want to speak at the workshop will need to fill out a participation form at the beginning of the regular meeting. The workshop, he said, will likely take the rest of the day and re-convene on Wednesday.
