ECUD welcomes new board members who are ready to make a difference

ODESSA, Texas (KOSA) – The Ector County Utility District (ECUD) held its second meeting with its newly elected board members. The organization is already seeing a shift in energy and improved communication with other groups, all aimed at better serving the residents of West Odessa.

The three new board members bring unique backgrounds and a shared commitment to solving the community’s pressing issues, particularly water quality and access.

A community call to action

For board member Darell Pando, joining ECUD was a decision based on personal observations and the needs of the community.

“I started to really pay more attention because I heard people saying, ‘We’re running out of water and they’re not giving us water.’ We want water. What’s the delay?'” Pando explained.

As a long-time resident of Kermit and with over 20 years of experience in the trucking industry, Pando was asked by his community to represent their interests. Recalling how many families struggled with water shortages, he said, “I thought of all the stories of my friends and their family members asking my father-in-law, ‘Hey, can we borrow your truck?’ Can you get us water?’”

Leadership through transparency

Board President John Kelley, who has lived in Odessa for 75 years – 40 of them in West Odessa – decided to join ECUD after attending meetings for two years. Kelley retired 11 years ago after running Kelley Toolworks, a machine shop he owned for 35 years. Now, he says, it’s time to give something back.

“We had some free time, so we’ve been coming to meetings for two, two and a half years. I tried to move forward but had no success. Then elections came around, so I thought it was time to get involved and help the community,” Kelley said.

Kelley emphasized the importance of transparency and collaboration.

“We currently get our water from the city. So there has to be a good relationship with the city, there has to be a good relationship with the county, etc. Now that we have West Odessa Water Warriors, a nonprofit organization here to help us, we have four entities working together,” Kelley explained.

Giving back to a supportive community

Treasurer Jesús Sánchez also spoke, inspired by a desire to give back to a community that has supported his family-run restaurant, El Dorado Café, for five years.

“My community has been really good to me and my family. They supported us in this business even during COVID – it was really tough and people were still coming out,” Sánchez shared.

For Sánchez, frustration over water quality was a call to action.

“People are paying for water they can’t even drink. They can only use it to shower and water their trees or wash dishes. Then one day you open the tap and no water comes out. Now you have to run outside, whether it’s raining, snowing, cold or hot. You have to go there and get your water or call someone to bring it. It’s quite expensive and, above all, frustrating,” he said.

Look beyond water issues

While improving water access remains a key focus of ECUD’s new board, members are already planning to address additional challenges in West Odessa.

“We’re starting to make improvements and try to help the entire community – not just with water, but there are other things that need to be done out there,” Kelley added.

The new board members recognize that the next four years will be a learning curve, but they are committed to navigating their roles and making meaningful changes for the community they serve.

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