Federal funds are available to help with recovery from last year’s flooding of the Sabine River, but getting Orange County’s share of that money will take some detailed procedures. The Commissioners Court held a workshop Monday to hear from two groups that specialize in getting grant monies and administrating them for government entities.
Commissioner Barry Burton requested the workshop and explained the dilemma for Orange County is that the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has designated funds available through the Texas General Land Office for four specific counties which did not include Orange. Burton indicated the balance left over from those grants will be available to 20 counties including Orange. “We pretty much have to go in and fight for the crumbs,” Burton stated.
The Commissioners were given a presentation by the Institute for Building Technology and Safety or IBTS and a joint sales pitch from Hampsten Consulting and Wendorf Beward Partners. It was agreed that the clock is running for Orange County to request a disaster grant from the General Land Office with maybe only four to five weeks to act.
County Judge Brint Carlton said the county will use the information received to take action. Carlton advised, “We should try to make a decision as quickly as we can, but make a good decision. It’s something I’m sure we’ll have coming up pretty quick on an agenda as soon as we can.” Since it was a workshop no action could be taken Monday.
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