City council opts to join state opioid settlement [Odessa American, Texas]

Dec. 15—The Odessa City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday night to join the state opioid settlement.

After a brief discussion about the state opioid settlement, District 2 Councilman Steve Thompson motioned for the City of Odessa to join the state opioid settlement, while District 4 Councilman Tom Sprawls seconded the motion. District 1 Councilman Mark Matta wasn't present during Tuesday's meeting.

City manager Michael Marrero after the meeting said the initial amount of settlement money the City of Odessa could receive would be between $550,000 to $600,000. Marrero said those funds are depending on how many other cities across Texas join the state opioid settlement.

Marrero also explained the funds would be directed toward the Odessa Police Department and Odessa Fire Rescue to purchase Narcan. Marrero said the funds can also be used by a subrecipient that could be for counseling or drug rehab.

According to the Texas Attorney General website, there were 377 confirmed sign ons as of Tuesday night. The City of Odessa would be included in Region 14.

Marrero said after the meeting that after the initial settlement amount was awarded to the City of Odessa that the city could apply for additional funds. Marrero said the additional funds for Region 14 would be around $14 million.

The confirmed sign-ons in Region 14, prior to Odessa's city council meeting on Tuesday, were the City of Alpine, City of Pecos and Pecos County, City of Midland and Midland County, City of Big Spring and Howard County and Reeves County.

The city council also approved the renewal for group life insurance, AD&D coverage and retiree life insurance with Standard Insurance Company. Thompson abstained from voting on this agenda item.

There were also four public hearing items presented by City of Odessa Planning Director Randy Brinlee. All four items were unanimously approved. The first was considering approval to rezone from office to retail in Lot 2, Block 2, of the Faudree Road Development. The second was approval for original zoning of planned development-light commercial district on a 1.68 acre tract in Section 10, Block 41 near the southwest of the intersection of E. Dorado Drive and Faudree Road.

The third was approval of the original zoning for light industrial on Lot 11, Block 3, near southwest of the intersection of Industrial Avenue and East Interstate Highway 20 Service Road. The final was approval for a specific use permit to allow a beauty shop-one chair accessory use in a single family-three zoning district on Lot 25, Block 19, in the Lawndale Addition.

Brinlee explained the specific use permit to allow a beauty shop-one chair would be a temporary permit. He also said the business could operate from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week.

Other Items:

>> Approved minutes, November 23, 2021.

>> Approved work session minutes, December 7, 2021.

>> Approved the request by Roger Gearhart, lessee, Torentino's Inc., owner, for a specific use permit to allow a dance hall in a Retail (R) zoning district on Lot 43 UNIT 3A & 2.68% interest in common area, Block 13, Wedgewood (1541 John Ben Sheppard Parkway, Ste. 18) (Ordinance — Second and Final Approval).

>> Approved changes to modify Sec. 12-2-5 (One-Way Streets and Alleys) of the City Code of Ordinances. (Ordinance — Second and Final Approval).

>> Approved designating Industrial District 1-B as an Industrial District. (Resolution).

>> Approved designating Industrial District 1-C as an Industrial District. (Resolution).

>> Approved designating Lot 1, Block 1, Parkway RV Group, LLC as an Industrial District. (Resolution).

>> Approved annual renewal of Motorola P25 radio system maintenance/support.

>> Approved purchase of street sweeper trucks for Street Department for $570,088.

>> Approved renewal of contract for property insurance with TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool.

>> Approved renewal of contract for benefits claims administration.

>> Approved renewal of medical stop-loss insurance with Berkshire Hathaway through Risk Strategies.

>> Approved renewal of excess worker's comp insurance with Safety National Casualty.

>> Approved renewal of public entity liability Insurance with States Retention Group.

>> Approved adoption of The Family Health Project, revision January 1, 2022.

>> Approved award of base bid for air handler unit C4 in the amount of $33,000 and alternate number one bid to existing air handler C1 Motor in the amount of $13,510 to Bosworth for the City of Odessa Municipal Court Air Handler Unit (AHU).

>> Approved bid award for liquid ammonium sulfate to Chameleon Industries for $0.158 per pound.

>> Approved bid award for sodium hydroxide to DPC Industries for $0.4410 per pound.

>> Approved bid award for liquid aluminum sulfate to Chameleon Industries for $415.00 per ton.

>> Approved bid award for algicide to Hydroplus LTD for $14.85 per gallon.

>> Approved bid award for liquid/gas chlorine to DPC Industries for $1,485.00 per 1 ton cylinder and $250.00 per 150 lb. cylinder.

___

(c)2021 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas)

Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at www.oaoa.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.