The Commissioners Court approved Tuesday Janelle Dischler, the director of the Transportation Department, to proceed with the purchase of a new Ford Transit 350 bus for her department. The bus will replace another bus that was totaled in a wreck back in December. The county will pay only $11,450 of the total cost of $42,250 with the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission providing the remainder. Ownership of the bus will be with the Regional Planning Commission, but Orange County will get fulltime use of the bus while paying the insurance and providing the maintenance for it.
Sheriff Keith Merritt was approved by the Commissioners to apply for a Port Security Grant to purchase a new maritime patrol boat for his department which will replace a boat which is 16 years old. The cost of the new boat is not to exceed $59,785. Merritt said the boat will sustain and increase the Sheriff’s Office’s ability to protect the ports in Orange and Beaumont and the intra-coastal waterway.
At the close of the Commissioners Court meeting, Economic Development Executive Director Jessica Hill met with the Court in an executive session to discuss a business prospect that the county is seeking to do business in the county. After the nearly 40-minute closed meeting no action was taken by the Commissioners.
Several items on the agenda were tabled until next week. This was done to allow County Judge Brint Carlton and the Commissioners more time to meet with department heads at the Courthouse to discuss their preparations for the possible impact of Tropical Storm Cindy. Sand and bags will be available at the Precinct 1, Precinct 3, and Precinct 4 maintenance barns. Citizens wanting sandbags to protect their property must bring their own shovels to fill the bags.
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