Odess Town Council June 28 Meeting

ODESSA – The Odessa Town Council met June 28 with a full complement present, including Mayor Bill Crossley and council members Vickie Iverson, Landon Lobe, Kelly Watkins, Amy Gimmestad and Marlene Kramer.

Prior to the meeting, a public hearing was held to allow citizen input on the latest Transportation Improvement Plan after projects already underway were removed and others needing attention had been added. There were no questions or comments from the public, and the hearing was adjourned. The plan was approved later in the meeting.

Odessa Chamber of Commerce president Jeff Huiras received approval from the council to close Division Street north of First Ave. to Marjorie Ave. and south of First Ave. to Second Ave., as well as closing First Street from First Ave. north to Marjorie Ave. for an indoor/outdoor Biergarten for Deutschesfest on Sept. 16-19. Music this year would be provided outdoors on a flatbed trailer, and sanitation stations would be provided throughout the downtown area on recommendation of the county health department. Indoor activities and seating would be more limited due to Covid concerns.

Huiras also announced the Chamber Board’s plans to locate vendors spread out along First Ave. all the way west to Birch Street and east to First Street, as well as extending vendor locations north and south of First Ave. on Alder Street (SR 21).

The council approved all of the Chamber Board’s proposals. Also approved was acceptance of a $250,000 FAA grant for the Odessa Municipal Airport.

Police Chief Les Jimerson reported that a new officer has been hired for the Town of Odessa and that he would be arriving in town soon once his fingerprints are on file. …

Fire Chief Don Strebeck initiated the conversation regarding fireworks that was covered in last week’s issue of The Record. He also reported that letters had been sent out to property owners whose weed problems were creating a fire hazard.

Public Works Director Rod Webster reported that the health department would be inspecting the Odessa pool the next morning. The unrelenting heat, he also said, was affecting electrical panels at the sewer system’s lift stations and may require installation of some kind of cooling system. Street construction work was canceled for the week of June 28 – July 2 due to the extreme heat, he said, but would continue the following week with two scheduled water shutdowns that residents would be notified of in advance.

Mayor Crossley said he was in contact with the pool manager and had approved the scheduling of breaks to clear the pool so that lifeguards could rotate into the shade of the office on a regular basis.