During a packed Odessa City Council meeting where Odessa Fire & Rescue employees literally begged for their concerns of low wages and low moral to be addressed, Chief Alvarez stated “I’m telling you, to me it’s embarrassing. I have this entire department back here standing here begging for a raise here. You know, there’s different […]
Posted inState
Oil and Gas Workers Association President Under Fire for Sexist Comments and Organizational Allegations?
The president and founder of a non-profit energy industry lobby organization based in Odessa is coming under fire for inappropriate remarks made regarding a top Republican Party official in West Texas. Now, those remarks are leading to other allegations regarding the structure of the organization, and the president’s criminal past. The Oil and Gas Workers […]
Posted inLocal
Lawsuit Filed To Halt ECUD Directors Election
Update (10/24/2022): After a hearing was held late Friday, District Judge John Shrode has allowed the election for the ECUD board of director positions to proceed. Early voting in the election begins today. The lawsuit continues. A lawsuit was filed today in Ector County District Court on the behalf of Ector County Utility District Board […]
Posted inEctor County Utility District
ECUD to Hold Special Meeting Saturday on Tax Rate & Threatened Litigation
The Ector County Utility District (ECUD) which supplies water to West Odessa, has announced that the ECUD Board of Directors are hosting a special meeting Saturday, 9/24/22, at noon at the District office located at 1039 N. Moss. First on the agenda is the proposed tax rate for Operations and Maintenance (O&M). The O&M tax […]
Posted inLocal
Challenges to ECUD Election Continues
Jesse Christesson, the West Odessa resident who filed a challenge to Sheila Black’s candidacy for the ECUD Board of Directors says his challenge submitted last month has not been satisfactorily addressed and he is taking further action. “I want to help the ECUD customers and taxpayers ensure that we are getting fair and legal representation […]
Posted inLocal
West Odessa Resident Challenges Candidate’s Eligibility For ECUD Position
With Monday, August 22, being the last day to file to run for certain local public offices including two positions on the Ector County Utility District Board of Directors (ECUD) current directors, Will Kappauf and Troy Walker filed to run for to re-election to their unpaid board seats. In addition, another candidate, Sheila Black, also […]
Posted inLocal
Odessa City Council to See Major Changes with Upcoming Election
With the closing of the filing period for Odessa City Council candidates on Monday, candidates for two different districts are guaranteed to replace their outgoing city council incumbents, having entered their races unopposed, leaving only one contested race on the ballot in November. Outgoing District 4 Councilman Tom Sprawls will be succeeded by Greg Connell, […]
Posted inLocal
Newest ECUD Board Members Push for Increased Transparency
Since its formation in 1976 the Ector County Utility District (ECUD) has worked to supply drinking water to West Odessa residents. Originally founded by well-known West Odessa residents in Ocotillo Park like M.O. Boring, ECUD has grown into a system servicing thousands of residents and in 1997 ECUD applied for and became a Municipal Utility […]
Posted inLocal
Ector County Commissioner’s Vote to Allocate $20 Million in ARPA Funds Lacked Transparency?
On Wednesday, Ector County Commissioners entered their last day of a three-day meeting working to craft the annual budget for all elected offices and departments, and it was during this process the commissioners suddenly distributed roughly $20 million in federal aid funds – a move that is being questioned for a lack of transparency and […]
Posted inLocal
Councilman Thompson: “I Was Trying to Shame Them”
Emails and text messages between Odessa City Council-members published on social media appear to reveal a series of instances in which three elected officials where chastised and criticized by District 2 Councilman Steve Thompson for asking questions. The communications, published by the Odessa Accountability Project (OAP) which is a watchdog organization headed by businesswoman Jamie […]