Orange is extending water and sewer lines another 1,600 feet along Allie Payne Road. Tuesday, the Orange City Council approved a bid of $472,000 to extend the lines westward from White Oak Road. The city has plans to eventually have water and sewer lines from Meeks Drive to Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
The city is using money from the special economic development sales tax approved by voters to pay for the line extension. Public Works Director Jim Wolf said six companies bid on the project and the contract is going to Excavation and Construction, LLC, of Port Arthur. The company was low bidder.
The council approved the CenterPoint Energy cost adjustment through the state Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program adjustment that allows for year-to-year rate changes. The rate will increase an average of $1.71 for the average residential customer, according to city documents.
The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club program will be using the Orange Natatorium during the summer for swim lessons. The council approved a contract charging the group $20 per hour plus $1 per person per session for the use of the pool.
In other business, the council in the second and final reading approved an agreement with International Paper excluding the mill from paying franchise fees. The move was part of an economic development agreement reached in a “friendly” annexation requested by the company.
Also on second and final reading, the council approved a Planned Mixed Use Zoning District for land owned by Stan Floyd, owner of American Airboat. The property is east along the north side of Interstate 10 at Simmons Drive. The district would allow an alligator farm and tourist courts that Floyd may develop in the future.
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