The Commissioners Court gave approval Tuesday night for the second week in a row to have County Judge Brint Carlton sign a document stating that Orange County has the financial capability to pay its share of the construction of a proposed levee to be built between Sabine Pass and Galveston by the Corps of Engineers. The project which is nicknamed the Ike Dike is estimated to cost $1.9 billion. The county’s portion of the cost would be 35 percent or about $674 million.
Last week the judge signed a document after approval from the Commissioners that promised financial capability contingent on a vote of Orange County citizens. Tuesday night’s document excluded the stipulation of a vote of the citizens which had Judge Carlton and the other members of the Court uncomfortable with his signing it.
Commissioner Barry Burton made the motion for the judge to sign the document which was seconded by Commissioner John Gothia. Both believed the intent was still clear that Orange County could only pay for the project with an affirmative vote of the citizens in the county to double the current property tax rate. Carlton admitted that his signature on the document would still not obligate the county to pay anything or be a requirement for the Corps of Engineers to implement the project.
The vote was 3 to 1 for Carlton to sign the document with Commissioner Jody Crump being the lone dissenting vote just as he was the week before. The Corps of Engineers are scheduled to meet in about a week to review the project for further consideration.
In other business the Commissioners approved transferring a 2008 Ford Escape from the Maintenance Department to the County Judge’s Office pool car inventory. The vehicle has 58,681 miles on it and will be used for in county business trips or for use by county employees attending in state training or conferences.
Maintenance Director Kurt Guidry was thanked for his department installing brackets for the Courthouse Security Booth which allowed a large television monitor to be mounted on it. Guidry’s effort saved the county several hundred dollars.
At the recommendation of Tax Assessor Collector Karen Fisher the bids for five trust properties were accepted by the Commissioners. A proclamation was approved by the Court recognizing May as National Mental Health Awareness month. Representatives from the Spindletop Center in Beaumont received the proclamation.
No action was taken from any of the three closed executive sessions held at the end of the night meeting. Judge Carlton believes the Court should hold more evening sessions, but maybe with a little more publicity of the change in the meeting time. The meeting was attended by only 10 people which included three persons from the Spindletop Center with the remainder being county employees and media.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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