ECTOR COUNTY, Texas — The Ector County Utility District had plenty of things to talk about at the Wednesday, May 8 meeting with their Board of Directors.
First was the matter of finding a new vice president.
The loss of Sheila Black left an opening, but the board moved to nominate Troy Walker for the position.
Part of his responsibilities will be filling in for the ECUD president when she is not available.
Questions were also asked about the elections and how the board would be filled, but those two were clarified.
“The elections will take place in November during the general election cycle for all elected officials," said Debi Hays, ECUD General Manager.
While the positions are open, there are some restrictions based on where a potential applicant lives within the district.
“The individuals that can apply to serve on the district's board have to actually live within the district," Hays said. "If you're not sure whether you would qualify or not, you need to either own property and bring in your warranty deed that shows that you own property in the district or your voter registration card.”
Voting also depends on where a person lives within their respective district.
“The real quick and easy way is to look at your voter registration card," Hays said. "If your voter registration card where you sleep is in one address, which is not in the district, then you cannot vote for that board.”
Another decision made was regarding the by-laws ECUD follows.
They follow the rules and regulation set by the Public Utility Commission and Texas Commission of Environment Quality.
The district by-laws are a byproduct of those regulations. Now, the district will do away with their by-laws to follow the Texas Water Board.
“Not all utility districts do that," Hays said. "We just felt like as a district that it would help solidify how we're being governed and make it easier for the staff, the consumer, the board the employees because it's really easy to find what rules and regulations you should follow."
Hays also addressed overall water distribution.
While she said that ECUD doesn’t have the revenue or capital to put the water lines out for everyone, she did say there is money under the Senate Bill 28 that would help fund water programs.
Hays says that some Ector County commissioners are already working on how to apply for that state money.
“I believe the commissioner for this district is definitely on board for wanting to help do that. I know that commissioner that is in district two and district three are definitely on board," Hays said. "They have absolutely picked up the phone and called and said that they want to make a better life for those that do not have water.”
According to hays, the district receives a million dollars from properties that have been annexed in. The only other revenue they get is from water bills.