Commissioners to hear from ConnEctor Task Force
Mar. 27—The Ector County Commissioners may hear from the ConnEctor Task Force during their 10 a.m. meeting Tuesday.
County Judge Dustin Fawcett said Monday the item will likely be tabled adding the County could fund some seed money to create an Ector County broadband office. "We need to focus on applications with the state for a BOOT grant bringing online opportunities to Texas. The first round of funding grants are up to $5 million and we need to look at going after these."
BOOT, Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas, seeks to bridge the digital divide for low-income Texans and others, Fawcett said. He said the office could be housed out of the Ector County Library and said the goal is "helping students safely navigate the internet and with Telemed and other issues."
The court was slated to take any necessary action on the next steps for the Ector County Broadband Office to include a funding request.
During his March 22 media call, Ector County ISD Superintendent Scott Muri said the state broadband office has released the first round of money, a little over $300 million. It is available across the state for communities that are ready to have access to those dollars.
"We certainly are ready to do that, so the conversation we'll have next week with the county commission is the fact that we're ready as a local community to have access to these state funds," Muri said March 22.
"There will be other funding available a bit further down the road ...," he added.
In other business, commissioners will:
>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the Gale Excel Adult High School scholarships, and to approve the community proposal letter.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a proclamation declaring April 23-29 as National Crime Victims' Rights Week, and authorize the County Judge, County Commissioners, and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action on a Replat of Lot 4, Block 30, Pleasant Farms; 3rd Filing, (Prec. #4), and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the 1-Gig internet upgrade for the west side Annex, and authorize the County Judge to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding specifications on the request for qualifications for Engineering Services for the Ector County Utility District (ECUD) Water Distribution Project, and authorize the County Judge and the ECUD Board General Manager to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
This item, Fawcett said, is a continuation of an agreement signed with ECUD several weeks ago0. He said the commissioners in December, prior to Fawcett taking office, gave ECUD $10 million for a number of projects.
"Expanding the line in front of Buddy West Elementary School and improving access for larger parts of the West Odessa community," Fawcett said. "The majority of the funding will go to getting pipe in the ground and improving connections."
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a change order to the agreement between Ector County and HOK for Architectural Services for the new Juvenile Justice Center, and approve a budget amendment to 2020 Capital Projects Fund, professional services,039-990-5307, from Unreserved Fund Balance,039-3310, for $56,834, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
Fawcett said this item is simply a change order and that the deadline for bidders to submit proposals is March 31. "We extended the deadline last week as we wanted as many bids as possible for the juvenile justice center."
Fawcett said he is still hoping that Texas Legislature will appropriate $40 million for the project. In recent weeks, Fawcett has indicated that rather than Ector County going it alone on the center that he would like to partner with Midland County or even with a 17-county Permian Basin group for a larger and more effective facility.
"Maybe all counties could put in money and be a part of exploring options on how to best levarge funding for the entire Permian Basin," he said.
Fawcett said private stakeholders have expressed some interest in the project but that the proposed $40 million in state money could make it a reality. "It's a lot to think about ... We want something that best serves law enforcement and also the families of those juveniles that will keep them closer to home."
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve an Interlocal Agreement for the exchange of properties with ECISD and to approve an order exempting the purchase of land, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
Fawcett said this item deals with Ector County owning what is essentially part of a West Odessa school's playground. He said ECISD and the County will merely "swap" properties as ECISD owns a nearby playa and that ECISD will get the playground and the County will get the playa, which can be used for drainage. The item simply cleans up property ownership that has been incorrect.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the Architectural Services Agreement with Parkhill for the design and building oversight of the County Library, and authorize the County Judge, County Auditor, and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
Fawcett said the goal with the library and moving forward for the County is to come up with an Ector County wide assett plan. "We don't live in a silo and we need to see the whole picture and decide where we want to put buildings and how they will best serve Ector County residents."
He also detailed that there is a need to make the best use of county property and mentioned the old Boy Scout building near the courthouse. He said there is talk of what could that building be used for. "It could be a city visitor's center or a restaurant or a fire museum. There are so many things it could be. "
Like all county buildings, he said, the commissioners need to decide what would be the best use of the facility.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the Ector County monthly treasurer's reports for December 2022, January 2023, and February 2023, and authorize the County Judge and County Commissioners to sign all documents associated with this agenda item. In addition, requesting that the reports be archived with the official minutes of this meeting.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve payment for a FY 2022 invoice to the Ivy Group, in regard to the Commissioners' Court presentation from June 28, 2022.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a line item transfer to General Fund, Library, Professional Dues/Fees, 001-690-5302 from Periodicals, 001-690-5200 for $1,000, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a budget amendment to General Fund, Library, New Books, 001-690-5201 for $1,706, to Subscriptions, 001-690-5207 for $1,100 and to Donated Revenues, 001-417I for $2,806, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a budget amendment to General Fund, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3, Departmental Furniture & Equipment, 001-203-5199 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 001-3310 for $5,000, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a line item transfer to General Fund, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Educational Travel, 001-204-5161 from postage, 001-204-5193 for $1,500, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a budget amendment to General Fund, Justice of the Peace, Precinct 4, Departmental Furniture & Equipment, 001-204-5199 from Unreserved Fund Balance, 001-3310 for $2,500, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
>> To consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a line item transfer to Airport Fund, Educational Travel, 042-870-5161 from Electricity, 042-870-5352 for $2,600, and authorize the County Judge and County Clerk to sign all documents associated with this agenda item.
