A special Wednesday morning session of Commissioners Court included an update from Way Services on the progress of the energy efficiency modifications to the Orange County Courthouse and other county buildings. Ken Kelsey with Way Services informed the Court of the status of several rehabilitation projects on the Courthouse, the jail, and other facilities.
The work to retrofit the lighting in all the county buildings is about 60 percent complete with several of the facilities having 90 percent or better of the lights done. Kelsey told what the next project for rehabilitating the county’s buildings is installation of HVAC equipment in non-jail and Courthouse facilities. Kelsey indicated a majority of the facilities are currently 90 percent complete and should be finished about March 31.
Commissioner Barry Burton has been serving as the liaison for the Court with Way Services, and Burton said he is pleased with how the work is progressing. He commented the Courthouse windows and mason work looks great. Burton admitted the project started slow, but the cooperation between the county and Way is very good and both sides are trying to keep the schedule. County Judge Brint Carlton received the second invoice from Way Services for over $330,000 to cover the work completed thus far.
The Sheriff’s SWAT team was approved to purchase $3,500 in equipment using funds from the Orange County Federal Drug Fund. The Commissioners also approved the Sheriff’s Office to purchase an upgrade for the camera recording system in the Criminal Investigations Division. The cost will be about $15,000 and will be paid for with federal forfeiture funds.
Justice of the Peace Derry Dunn was approved by the Commissioners to replace an old I-Pad for his court at the cost of about $1,000. The office of the Justice of the Peace in Precinct Three was given approval to contract with Eye-On for security monitoring of the court located at the Orange County Airport at a cost of $420.
Commissioner John Gothia will join Assistant County Attorney Doug Manning, Purchasing Agent Connie Cassidy, County Auditor Pennee Schmitt, and County Treasurer Christy Khoury serving on a bank depository committee. The committee will review proposals for several county deposit contracts.
The Court recognized three organizations with proclamations at the beginning of the meeting. March is Red Cross Month (left) in the county. March is also Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. March 15 was recognized as National Kick Butts Day (below) to help young people avoid the use of all tobacco products.
After the regular meeting the Commissioners heard a presentation from Property Assessed Clean Energy Act Program or P.A.C.E during a public workshop. Charlene Heydinger with Keeping PACE in Texas is promoting an energy efficiency program that has been started in Houston and Dallas as well as in 10 Texas counties. The program allows for businesses to undertake capital improvements to their facilities like that being done by Orange County with Way Services.
Heydinger emphasized the program is totally voluntary for businesses and there is no use of public tax dollars. The Commissioners Court indicated it might consider the program upon further review.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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