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Road could lead to Summit
Odessa American - July 10, 2009

Road could lead to Summit
BY GEOFF FOLSOM
2009-07-10 19:35:45

Gary Vest, economic development director for the Odessa Chamber of Commerce, said one of the reasons to extend JBS Parkway southward is because it will allow Grandview Avenue to be shut down through the Odessa Petrochemical Complex, which could help improve safety and security.

But why do that right now, when much of the complex is closing?

“If we don’t do it now, when TxDOT is willing, then this could be bumped 20 years or into infinity,” Vest said.

But Vest said the extension, which would take JBS Parkway from Interstate 20 south to FM 3503, could have an even bigger impact economically by attracting tenants to the Odessa Industrial Development Corp. Industrial Park.

And it could even provide access to Summit Power Group’s proposed coal gasification plant.

“It’s not far enough along to say whether it will or won’t, but it’s a possibility,” Vest said.

The plant, designed to capture between 80 and 85 percent of the carbon dioxide it produces, which would be sequestered for enhanced oil recovery, still has several hurdles to clear, but Vest said it could be built on part of the 1,100 acres owned by Flint Hills Resources in the area of its recently shuttered plant.

Initial plans called for the $2 billion Summit plant to be built on the Penwell site once proposed for FutureGen, a federally backed coal-gasification project that was ultimately awarded to Mattoon, Ill., in 2007. But problems securing land in Penwell have led to other alternatives being considered.

Vest said the Flint Hills site has the infrastructure and rail access needed to host such a project.

“It’s got a lot of potential,” he said. “We’ve just got to come up with a development plan.”

Vest said he’s talked with Flint Hills about securing land for both redevelopment and right-of-way on the JBS Parkway extension.

“It’s a tragedy that we lost Flint Hills,” Vest said. “We’ve got to come up with the best reuse, redevelopment situation we can.”

Ector County commissioners will have a chance to decide how much, if any, of the road’s estimated $3 million price tag they want to contribute at Monday’s meeting, County Judge Susan Redford said. They could end up paying for half of the local funding for the road, with the city of Odessa picking up the remainder.

Part of the road’s price tag is being taken care of by $490,000 in federal funds secured by U.S. Rep. Mike Conaway, R-Odessa.

Redford said it wasn’t certain whether the county’s support was necessary for the road.

“I really don’t know one way or another whether they will go through with the project or not (without county support),” she said.

Commissioners will also vote on whether to submit a resolution with TxDTOT on continuing with improvements to Northeast Loop 338. Redford said the Odessa-Midland metropolitan transportation organization has identified the road as a priority project. Potential upgrades include widening the road and building overpasses.

Redford will also submit a proposed fiscal year 2009-2010 budget. She said it wouldn’t raise any taxes.

While the overall budget would be the same as the $41 million approved for 2008-2009, she said money within departments would be allocated differently.

Commissioners will also decide whether to continue with Ector County’s burn ban, which went into place June 15. Redford said Friday the county average on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index was a “very dry” 544 and parts of South Ector County were as high as 661, but northeastern parts of the county were as low as 161.

The legal action mark for the index is 575. Redford said commissioners couldn’t institute a burn ban in only parts of the county.

Midland County lifted its burn ban Monday.

In other action, commissioners will consider:

>> A presentation on the Texas State Procurement Card.

>> Donations of $1,350 toward the West Side Senior Center.

>> A proposal to make the Ector County Library’s campus smoke free.

>> The collection of the on-site sewage facility septic system application fee.

>> A proposal for storm damage insurance at Schlemeyer Field airport.

>> An imposition of fees regarding registration of vehicles.

>> Ector County becoming a member of the North Texas Council of Governments for actuarial shared services cooperative bids.

>> Proposal specifications on an inmate telephone system and public pay phone services.

>> Proposal specifications for fixed base operator for Schlemeyer Field.

>> A memorandum of understanding with the city of Odessa to apply for a Justice Assistance Grant they apply for every year. The county is requesting $23,317.54, while the city wants $104,375.

>> A contract between the county and the state attorney general’s office to provide information from family law cases filed in the county to the San Antonio Disbursement Unit for Child Support.

>> Closing East Avenue from 46th Street to 47th Street. Redford said the board of the Permian Basin Fair & Exposition wants to close the section of street it owns land around. She said no residential properties are affected.

>> A re-plat of the Haley Subdivision.

COMMISSIONERS MEETING

>> When: 10 a.m. Monday.

>> Where: Commissioners Courtroom, Ector County Administration Building Annex, 1010 E. Eighth St.

>> Call: 498-4100.