ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — Every second counts when it comes to saving a life.
The City of Odessa, Ector County commissioners and the Ector County Hospital District Board have announced a joint effort to expand Odessa fire and emergency services across unincorporated parts of Ector County.
“We had a couple of conversations with the fire department, which runs the EMS ambulance service and everybody knows there's an issue with reaching the farthest parts of the county, the fastest is 30 to 45 minutes sometimes,” said Wallace Dunn, the president of the board for the Ector County Hospital District.
According to Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett, approximately 25-to-30% of Odessa Fire Rescue runs are taking place in the unincorporated areas depending on the year.
Odessa City Manager John Beckmeyer said the continuous population growth and expansion of areas such as West Odessa were considered during the agreement.
“... If you live in Ector County and in the city of Odessa, your city taxes will come down 14 cents,” said Russell Tippin, president and CEO of Medical Health Center. “In the hospital district, we will turn around and move those up eight cents. There is a six cent difference in between those two rates and that's because our taxing authority is so much larger, and we will take those funds.... and send those to the city for them to fund expanded fire and EMS services to the unincorporated areas."
The plan will only move forward if it receives approval from voters on the ballot this November, and with support from legislation.