West Odessa Residents Seek Help From Ector Commissioners Court Regarding Issues With ECUD

Odessa, Texas/November 19, 2023-On Thursday, November 16th, during a regular scheduled meeting of the Ector County Commissioners, residents of West Odessa presented a petition of around four-hundred signatures to the Commissioners Court prior to t Executive Session. The petition was very broad in scope and contained no specific issues to be remedied. 

(Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

West Odessa residents’ complaint that ECUD officials that include former Ector County Judge Debbie Hays, who is currently the General Manager for the Ector County Utility District violate the taxing entity’s Open Meeting Act and violate their Bi-Laws.  

(Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

Shirley Jo Kelley, a resident of West Odessa started attending ECUD meetings over a year ago and had high hopes that things would get better. 

(Shirley Jo Kelley, Resident-West Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

West Odessa has a large and growing Hispanic population. Sylvia Garcia wants to see more diversity on the ECUD Board.  

(Sylvia Garcia, Resident-West Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

The Ector County Utility District was formed in 1976 under the mandate of the Ector County Commissioners Court of that year. Therefore, the current county commissioners court believes they have the authority to investigate the ECUD violations that West Odessa residents are alleging (Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

(Dustin Fawcett, Ector County Judge-Ector County/Odessa, Texas) 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera. 

  

City of Midland Mandatory Boil Water Notice-DRB Media Communications Digital News

Midland, Texas/January 5, 2023-On Monday, January 2nd 2023 a contractor working off of Highway 158 near Grasslands ruptured a waterline causing disruption of one of the City of Midland’s water sources. Later Monday evening, mechanical and Operator issues developed at the Midland Water Plant causing further disruptions. 

(Carl Craigo, P.E., Director of Utilites, City of Midland, Texas) 

The water is lake water and unclean for drinking, therefore the need for the boil water noticed issued by the City of Midland. 

(Patrick Payton, Mayor-City of Midland, Texas) 

Dr. Whitney Craig of the Midland Health Department said that water for food and drinks need to be boiled. Restaurants and business that utilize water in their business activities need to close. 

(Dr. Whitney Craig, Midland Health Department, Midland, Texas) 

The City of Midland will have four water distribution sites: Martin Luther King Center, First Baptist Church, The Chaps Center at Midland College and Stonegate Fellowship. Follow social media for updates on these distribution centers when they become available. 

For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(061522)-CITY OF ODESSA WATER LINE BREAK UPDATE

Odessa, Texas/June 15, 2022-Officials with the City of Odessa’s Public Works Department held a 4pm press conference on Wednesday, June 15th to update the water line break repairs. Wednesday morning the water plant was re-started and water was loaded into the system. 

(Tom Kerr, Public Works Director, City of Odessa, Texas) 

Tom Kerr, Public Works Director advises to continue boiling water before consumptions. 

(Tom Kerr, Public Works Director, City of Odessa, Texas) 

One of the problems with the 60-year-old water line and the break was with a cutoff valve that failed. This valve was located in the area of 4nd Street. 

(Tom Kerr, Public Works Director, City of Odessa, Texas) 

(Philip Urrutia, Assistant City Manager, City of Odessa)  

During the water line break Medical Center Hospital and Odessa Regional Medical Center cancelled many of their service. Officials with the City of Odessa provided cases of water to both hospitals as well as nursing homes. 

(Philip Urrutia, Assistant City Manager, City of Odessa) 

State agencies along with local businesses and organizations donated bottled water to residents during the citywide water shut down. There is a surplus of bottled water, residents need to follow the City of Odessa website and social media for water distribution day and location. 

(John Alvarez, Fire Chief- City of Odessa) 

For DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS, Danny Barrera. 

DRB MEDIA COMMUNICATIONS DIGITAL NEWS(060322)-RENOVATIONS OF THE CEED BUILDING/UTPB MIDLAND CAMPUS

Midland, Texas/June 3, 2022-The University of Texas Permian Basin’s Center for Energy and Economic Diversification, known as the CEED Building is undergoing major renovations to develop spaces to support innovation and entrepreneurship.
(Brian Shedd, Executive Director for the Office Innovation and Commercialization-UT Permian Basin)
There will be 4 main areas of development under the renovations. The Innovation Corridor which will run through the center of the building; the Conference and Event Space; SBDC offices, which will be relocated within the Innovation Corridor, and two labs that will be located at the back of the CEED building.
(Brian Shedd, Executive Director for the Office Innovation and Commercialization-UT Permian Basin)
Funding for the renovations to the Center for Energy and Economic Diversification Building were provided from several sources.
(Brian Shedd, Executive Director for the Office Innovation and Commercialization-UT Permian Basin)
Once the renovations to the CEED Building are completed, the university will focus on three main industries, water, energy which includes oil and gas and aerospace.
For DRB Media Communications Digital News, Danny Barrera