06/15/2026
REBUTTAL REGARDING BUSINESS LICENSE INSPECTIONS
City of Odessa Alderman Meeting – May 26, 2026
The Odessa Fire Rescue Protection District would like to formally address the discussion regarding the City of Odessa requesting the Fire District conduct business inspections for the City’s business license renewal process.
Chief Shook previously met with Shawna Davis, City Administrator, and Cathy Thompson, Finance Director, to discuss this matter in detail. During that meeting, several concerns and limitations were presented explaining why the Fire District cannot assume responsibility for inspections related to a city ordinance.
The Odessa Fire Rescue Protection District is a separate governmental entity and is not a department of the City of Odessa. The requirement for business inspections tied to business license renewals is a city ordinance and therefore remains the responsibility of the City of Odessa to administer and enforce.
The Fire District currently does not have personnel available to dedicate to conducting annual business inspections. Our staffing levels are structured to provide emergency response services, fire suppression, rescue operations, and EMS coverage for the district. Diverting personnel away from emergency response duties to conduct inspections would negatively impact on the level of service we are able to provide to the citizens we serve.
It is also important to note that as a separate entity, the Fire District receives no funding from the City of Odessa. Revenue generated from business license fees remains with the city and is deposited into the City’s accounts. The Fire District does not receive
compensation, staffing support, or operational funding associated with administering the City’s business license program.
The Odessa Fire Rescue Protection District remains committed to maintaining a positive working relationship with the City of Odessa and continuing cooperative efforts that benefit our community. However, demanding the Fire District to assume responsibility
for a city-managed ordinance without dedicated funding, staffing, or legal obligation is not feasible under the district’s current operational and financial conditions. Our priority must remain the protection of life, property, and emergency medical
response for the citizens of the Fire District.
Respectfully,
Chief Shook
Odessa Fire Rescue Protection District
Send a message to learn more