What happened: The Midland County Commissioners Court met on Tuesday, Oct. 21, to approve new infrastructure contracts, finalize fleet purchases, and review updates on the 2025 County Fair. Commissioners also approved a new inmate mentorship program aimed at helping former inmates successfully reintegrate into the community and reduce repeat offenses.

Key points:

  • Sheriff’s Office: Commissioners approved a new contract with One Community USA to launch an 18-month mentorship program for inmates after release, a first for West Texas. Modeled after a successful Tarrant County initiative, the program provides 22 lessons to help participants reintegrate and avoid reoffending.

    Funding will come from jail commissary revenues, not county tax dollars. Sheriff David Criner noted that in Tarrant County, none of the program’s graduates have returned to jail.

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  • Fleet management: Commissioners unanimously approved updated job descriptions for the Fleet Administrator and Fleet Supervisor, signaling a shift after months of disagreement over who should manage Midland County’s vehicles.

Earlier this month, County Judge Terry Johnson questioned whether a full-time fleet manager was necessary now that Sewell Fleet Management oversees day-to-day operations. Commissioners Steven Villela and Dianne Anderson disagreed, saying that internal oversight was still necessary to represent the county’s interests and track vendor performance.

In September, a divided court narrowly voted to end its longtime contract with Vector Fleet and switch to Sewell after concerns about costs, response times, and service quality. Since the transition, Villela has said county staff report faster repairs and better communication.

  • County Fair 2025: The four-day 2025 Midland County Fair drew near record attendance despite construction and hot weather. The expanded schedule featured a triple tribute weekend to the Eagles, George Strait, and Selena. Marketing costs totaled about $130,000, which the fair paid for through hotel/motel tax grants. Organizers estimate the fair generated roughly $2 million in tourism revenue.
  • Road and infrastructure: Commissioners approved a contract to repair and repave roads in the area south of Highway 80 between Industrial Loop and Clark Street. The project covers about 12 miles, where a previous chip seal failed because old asphalt had separated from the base. The court also approved a South Loop connectivity study with Ector County to help define a future Midland-Odessa outer loop route.
  • Nonprofit funding: Commissioners approved $392,000 in budgeted allocations to 12 local nonprofits that provide services benefiting the county, such as child advocacy, mental health support, and community programs. Staff explained that the county includes these contributions in the budget each year.