Leadership Summit planned Monday

Public invited to planning session at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum

What should the path forward for Howard County look like?

Local government and other community leaders are meeting Monday to discuss the issue and try to get on the same page regarding the future of our local area, and you're invited to listen and submit questions for the various entities that guide Howard County, Big Spring, and its various entities to consider.

The Special Joint Leadership Summit is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Howard College's Dorothy Garrett Coliseum, 1001 Birdwell Lane. Those interested can attend in person, or view a live stream of the meeting at www.stellarvirtualevents.com/howard-countyleadership-summit .

A recording will be available at the same link immediately following the meeting, or on Suddenlink Channel 17 one week after the event.

“One of the things that drove this Dec. 6 meeting is, communications just haven't been there, so maybe if we just throw everybody together,” said Big Spring Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Mark Willis, the event's organizer. “I'm hoping for some personal communications in the foyer after it's over. I think that's the best you can hope for – some of the City Council members talking to some of the County Commissioners about 'We have problems with this...let's stop doing this and work together.' I have several examples I think could be worked out that right now we fight about. That could be worked out to be mutually beneficial if we'd just talk a little more and work through those problems.”

At 6:30 p.m., District Judge Timothy Yeats, acting as master of ceremonies, will call the meeting to order and welcome those present. Associate Pastor of Life Church Manny Negron will offer an invocation and lead the Pledge of Allegiance.

Judge Yeats will explain the focus of the meeting and the procedures to be followed, and then representatives from each of the 10 entities attending the meeting will have a chance to speak about their vision, challenges and ideas about the area's focus for 2022 and the future.

Entities attending the meeting and their respective representatives include:

• Howard County – Commissioner Jimmie Long (Precinct 3)

• City of Big Spring – Mayor Shannon

Thomason

• Big Spring Economic Development Corporation – Executive Director Mark Willis

• Big Spring Area Chamber of Commerce – President Kristy Tyra

• Howard College – President Dr. Cheryl Sparks

• Big Spring ISD – Superintendent Jay Mcwilliams

• Coahoma ISD – Superintendent Brad Cox

• Forsan ISD – Superintendent Randy Johnson

• West Texas VA Healthcare System – Medical Center Director Jason Cave

• Scenic Mountain Medical Center – President Stacey Brown

Following the presentations by the 10 entities, the entities will be given a chance to respond to selected questions and comments from the public, which will be submitted in writing prior to the meeting.

Among topics expected to be addressed at the meeting are expansion of business west of the Mcmahon-wrinkle Airpark and along the U.S. Hwy 87 Reliever Route, and how to offset the blow to local employment caused by the closure of GEO federal prisons locally.

For more information, contact the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation at 432-2646032.