The Orange City Council Tuesday gave the final approval for the land along Interstate 10 between 15th and 16th Streets to become a mixed use zoning district.
City officials previously said the zone change from commercial special will attract developers to the land, which is around where the old Cody’s Restaurant once stood.
The council also approved adding $15,400 to the budget to install a 27-inch sewer line to the same land. The addition to the sewer budget is for more engineering from Schaumburg and Polk. The total budget is at $83,000. The money is coming from the Economic Development Corporation, which uses income from a special sales tax.
Also, the council gave final approval to reimbursing the new First State Bank $175,000 for infrastructure. The EDC money is being used for sewer lines and other services at the bank’s site, which is under construction at Interstate 10 and Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
In other business, the council voted to appoint Single Member District 3 Councilor Terrie Salter to the city’s EDC board of directors. Three of the seven board members must be city council members with the mayor automatically serving.
A vacancy was open because Jimmy Sims is no longer mayor. New Mayor Larry Spears was already on the board, so another councilor needed to fill the spot. The third councilor on the board is Bill Mello.
The council also approved spending $70,948 with Epic Engineering to install equipment for the Meeks Drive water production plant, the 15th Street elevated water tower, and the Strickland Drive elevated water tower. The equipment allows remote controls of the sites.
Public Works Director Jim Wolf said the city has been adding the remote control electronics to nine major sewer lift stations, two water plants, and three elevated water towers.
The council rejected a proposal from Single Member District No. 4 Councilor Annette Pernell to allow city paid out-of-state travel. Pernell said the National Municipal League offers more ideas than only the Texas Municipal League.
City Manager Dr. Shawn Oubre told the council that televised recorded council meetings are still not showing up on Spectrum cable system. He said Spectrum is using out of date equipment that does not match with the city’s. The cable company has not responded to city requests, even with the city got state officials to try to help.
He said video recordings of city council meetings are being posted on the city’s website.
-Margaret Toal, KOGT-
Our Mayor & council members were wise to reject Annette Pernells request for paid out of State travel. That wasn’t a valid request in my opinion . Very glad they showed wisdom in rejecting her request.
The National municipal league was formed in 1894 in Philadelphia . Was & is a worthwhile organization . My thoughts are
“Don’t mess with Texas”. We are a small city. our money needs to be spent here in Orange Texas on behalf of our taxpayers.
Making neighborhood’s safe , improving the quality of life for our residents. Not buying airplane tickets & expensive hotel rooms & meals for a council member that wants to take a trip at taxpayer expense.
Just my thoughts…..
Agree with you Jarvis. it was a ridiculous request. We are talking about Orange Texas, not Dallas. If there truly is a need “more ideas” I suggest perusing the Internet. There is a world of ideas at ones fingertips at no cost to taxpayers-
Please allow me a comment regarding Galvestons great hero Jack Johnson.
So proud of our President for giving him a pardon. He was crucified for being a black man. No other reason. So proud of president Trump to right this wrong. I will never understand why our past presidents didn’t have the courage to make the pardon. I am so greatful our president Trump did. Makes me proud to support him.