Dispute breaks out during ECUD meeting. Now both members speak out

ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Following yesterday’s Ector County Utility District meeting, Troy Walker and Tommy Ervin spoke with us to share their take on the dispute that broke out between the two during the meeting.

“Public statements are available, no attacks no anything, just state your issue and move on,” said Troy Walker, current ECUD board member.

Walker is a current board member of ECUD and he was the subject of the comments made by former ECUD president, Tommy Ervin, who stepped down from his role in 2023.

“With his outburst as it was yesterday, I think that’s enough for Mr. Walker to resign from this board,” said Tommy Ervin, former ECUD president.

The two men have had disagreements over the plans ECUD has made for giving West Odessa residents access to water and previous lawsuits that have involved current and past ECUD board members.

“I don’t think he belongs here; I don’t think he belongs here at all; I just want to remind the people about what he’s capable of doing,” Ervin said.

Walker said he is upset with how the comments at the meeting were handled by the board and staff.

“I asked security to have him removed, they did not follow their own rules, I will not be attacked. The reason Tommy Ervin attacked me is because I cannot be controlled,” Walker said.

Ervin said he has done his part as a former ECUD board member to ensure West Odessa members have healthy drinking water, and he encourages those who still do not have water access, to save money and gather their neighbors to form plans and gather funding to begin constructing water piping to their homes.

“I can be criticized all you want and stuff but I was put in the end, during that time as I was president from 2016 to November 2023,” Ervin said. “I was responsible for putting in or mainly responsible for putting in over 80,000 feet of pipeline for people to have access to water.”

Walker said more needs to be done for people to have water access, and that he cannot do it alone, so he encourages people to go out and vote in November.

“The people of West Odessa deserve better, it’s time to vote off some old board members,” Walker said.

Ector County Precinct One Commissioner Mike Gardner will be hosting a candidate forum for voters to ask questions and voice their concerns. The forum will be at 6 pm on Tuesday, October 15, at the West Texas Ballroom, located at 14394 West University Boulevard.

Elections for ECUD board member will take place November 5.

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