Photo credit: Midland County

What to watch: Midland County Commissioners Court will meet Tuesday, Oct. 6, to consider additional jail medical staffing costs, finalize agreements involving its county vehicle fleet and Horseshoe operations, and move forward with several building, road, and drainage projects.

Key points:

  • Jail medical staffing costs: Commissioners may approve additional payments to CorrHealth for staffing costs exceeding the limit established in its contract. CorrHealth provides medical and mental health care for inmates at the county jail and juveniles at the Barbara Culver Juvenile Justice Center. The agenda does not specify how much the county owes or why staffing costs exceeded the limit.

The county says that construction on the new Midland County Detention Center should be completed by Thanksgiving.

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  • Fleet management: Commissioners may approve a maintenance management and vehicle services agreement with Sewell Fleet Management. The court will also discuss a new software system to track and manage its vehicle fleet.

Last year, a divided court voted to replace its longtime fleet provider, Vector Fleet, with Sewell. Sewell’s proposal included a flat $30 monthly fee per vehicle and projected approximately $4 million in savings over five years.

  • Horseshoe operations: Commissioners may finalize an agreement with KVL Opportunity, LLC to provide alcohol service at the Horseshoe. The court will also consider approving updated policies governing rentals of the county-owned event facility that could affect how organizations and individuals book and use the facility. The agenda does not detail the proposed policy changes.

On Sept. 1, commissioners selected KVL Opportunity as the Horseshoe’s sole alcohol service provider, and the company will receive 30% of gross alcohol sales.

  • County building renovations: Commissioners may approve additional construction costs for the county’s 509 N. Loraine St. building, which is being converted into records storage. In September, commissioners approved additional work after demolition revealed structural problems. The project includes security improvements and additional architectural work to stabilize a wall and support an elevator.

The new proposal represents another potential cost adjustment to the renovation. However, the agenda does not disclose the amount or specify whether the work addresses previously identified problems or newly discovered issues.

  • Roads and drainage: Commissioners may authorize the Public Works Department to work with the City of Odessa on transferring the OIME Playa tract to Midland County for future drainage improvements. A playa is a natural low-lying area where stormwater collects. The agenda does not identify the specific improvements planned for the property or the terms of the proposed transfer.

Commissioners will also consider adding County Road 1223 ½ and County Road 1226 to the county’s road maintenance system. The county included both roads in its acquisition of land and road access rights for County Road 130. Accepting the roads would formally make the county responsible for their maintenance.

Separately, commissioners may award a contract for safety improvements on South County Road 1232. The agenda does not specify the proposed improvements or contract amount.

  • County personnel: Commissioners may approve job descriptions for an auto theft detective and vehicle inspector under Constable Precinct 3 Jerry Cook and a Public Works engineer, as well as a job posting for a lead medical/death investigator at the Medical Examiner’s Office.

The court may also act on the Strategic Partnerships Coordinator position. The agenda does not specify whether these actions involve new positions, changes to existing jobs, or filling vacancies.