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New library architecture on agenda

BY ROYAL MCGREGOR

rmcgregor@oaoa.com

During today’s regularly scheduled Ector County Commissioners meeting, Ector County Library director Howard Marks has a busy day with five items on the agenda.

The biggest item is to consider, discuss, award, reject or take any necessary action regarding specifi cations on a request for qualifications for architectural services for the building of the new library. This agenda item and others will be heard at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Ector County Administration Building Annex located in Room 120 at 1010 E. Eighth St. in Odessa.

>> See AGENDA Page 3A


>> From Page 1A

“It’s a long time coming,” Marks said over the phone on Monday morning. “We are just excited about all the possibilities for the community. This is really for them. This is literally going to be moving us into the future. It can fast track us into 2030.” On Aug. 23, the Ector County Commissioners’ Court unanimously approved using $250,000 in ARPA funds for architectural services for discovery, cost analysis, design and construction of a new library.

Odessa Arts Executive Director and Chair of the Ector County Library Committee Randy Ham told commissioners during that meeting there are multiple firms that plan to bid on the project. Lucy Soto from the Ector County Purchasing Department and Marks are scheduled to give the presentation about the new architectural services.

Marks said the current schedule is to officially start the bidding process and have that continue until Nov. 21. Marks said after that a three-week evaluation process will take place and then hopefully make a decision about the new library before Christmas.

The Ector County Library will also speak about action regarding the Memorandum of Understanding for a Friends of the Ector County Library grant for $25,000 for 20222023, action regarding an agreement for Gale Cengage Excel Adult High School, action regarding a three-year annual license agreement for Beanstack services and action regarding a license agreement for Newsbank electronic research database subscription.

The court will also:

>> Discuss the assistance and tools that are available to the Ector County Sheriff’s Department and Odessa Police Department to combat the rise in drug related crimes in Ector County.

>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action regarding the contract proposal for Offenderwatch and authorize the County Judge to sign.

>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to request two certified Peace Officer positions statuses to be changed to Service Department.

>> Consider, discuss, and take any necessary action to approve a request to hire a Department Coordinator at a Step 7 due to experience.

>> See AGENDA Page 5A

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