The Commissioners Court received an update on repairs and improvements to the duct work at the Administration Building of the Courthouse Tuesday from Way Services. The news was not necessarily good from Way, but it was not all bad news either.
Ken Kelsey with Way informed the Commissioners that work had ceased on the air system in the Administration Building because four out of five air units in the facility have ducts that have burst. Kelsey blamed the problem on the quality of the ducts which are fiber board instead of the superior sheet metal lined type ducts and the addition of air conditioning controls in the building that built up air pressure in the units.
He gave three recommendations to the Commissioners Court concerning the solution to the problem. One option was to do nothing. The second option was to repair all the damage ducts and add dampers to the systems which should relieve the air pressure in the ducts which caused them to burst previously. This option would mean no change in the contract price the county is paying Way. The third option was to replace the majority of the ducts with sheet metal lined ones at a cost of about $125,000.
The Court voted unanimously for option two which would mean no additional cost to the county at this time. The Court could always decide in the future to pay for the replacement of the ducts with sheet metal lined ones.
For the second time in three weeks the Commissioners Court tabled an item for consideration concerning the health care benefits for future employees hired by county when they retire. Same as two weeks ago the Court did not have all its members able to attend either the workshop or the regular Commissioners Court meeting on Tuesday.
County Judge Brint Carlton presented figures to the Commissioners present during the workshop that in 2009 the county paid over $600,000 in retiree health insurance. This year the price of retiree health care will be between 1.4 to 1.5 million dollars. Representative from the Texas Association Counties (TAC) that attended the workshop indicated Orange Count is one of only 10 counties out of 213 counties that are TAC members to pay 100 percent of retirees’ health insurance costs for the life of a retiree.
Carlton requested any decision be tabled until Commissioner John Gothia be present for a full Court to vote on the matter. The item should be on next week’s Commissioners Court agenda again when hopefully all of the Commissioners and Carlton will be in attendance.
At the recommendation of Frank McCoy with the Orange County Child Welfare Board the Commissioners approved appointing Michelle Tubbeville as a new member to the board. Commissioner Johnny Trahan who works with CASA spoke of the appointment of Tubbeville as a very positive decision, and it will help benefit the 222 children in foster care in Orange County.
In the wake of recent incidents at the Orange County Jail, the Commissioners Court approved a line item transfer which will go to purchase 10 security cameras for the jail. The cost for the cameras and two new vacuum cleaners included in the line item transfer will be $1,400.
The County Clerk’s office will be getting a new 500 pound safe. Commissioners approved County Clerk Brandy Robertson to purchase the safe at a cost of just under $1900. The safe will be used to store documents such as sealed records and wills.
Maintenance Department Director Kurt Guidry was approved to purchase two fuel pumps, two fuel nozzles, and two fuel meters for a total cost of $1,329.94. The items will be used to repair and replace outdated fuel equipment at the Orange County gun range and standby fuel tanks. Guidry added this was in preparation for the start of hurricane season in June.
A request by Janell Dischler the Transportation Director to purchase a part to repair the department’s ice maker was approved by the Commissioners. The part will cost $2,249.00, and Dischler has been told by the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission it will reimburse Orange County for half the cost of the part.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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