The third elected county law enforcement officer to resign in the last month is Sheriff Keith Merritt. The sheriff handed his printed letter of resignation effective June 30 to the Commissioners Court prior to its meeting Tuesday.
County Judge John Gothia read the letter aloud at the beginning of the meeting Tuesday afternoon. Gothia was joined by the Commissioners in thanking Merritt for his 25 years of service to the county as the Constable of Precinct 1 and since January 2009 as the Sheriff of Orange County.
Merritt commented in the letter of resignation his heart is telling him it is time to end his law enforcement career instead of waiting until his term ends on December 31.
In the letter of resignation Merritt said that he spoke with the newly elected Sheriff Lane Mooney about his early retirement. Mooney has agreed to start his term early and is prepared to begin his new administration at the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.
The Commissioners Court during its meeting approved the appointment of Brad Frye as the Constable of Precinct 3 to replace Mark Philpott who also resigned.
Frye is an officer with the Bridge City Police Department and will be able to assume the position of constable on June 29.
This followed the appointment of Jeremiah Gunter who replaced Mark Jones as the Constable of Precinct 2 in May. Both Frye and Gunter won the Republican Primary for their respective constable positions and have no opponents in the general election.
The Commissioners approved a renewal of health, vision, dental, and life insurance for county employees covering October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. The Health Group plan with the Texas Association of Counties will include a $3,000 deductible and a $40 co-pay for the employees.
Human Resources Director Lori Ardoin was pleased to announce the renewal was a much lower three percent increase for the health insurance portion compared to the past two years. Ardoin credits the wellness plan being implemented for the county employees for the lower number of health cases being filed which has resulted in the reduced increase.
The Orange County Disaster Declaration was re-extended by the Court for another month until July 7 which will be the date for the first meeting of the Commissioners Court in July. Judge Gothia expressed the need to keep the Disaster Declaration active as long as Governor Greg Abbott has the State of Texas under its Disaster Declaration so the county will be eligible for any state funding to combat the Coronavirus.
Sixteen properties in the City of Vidor were approved for tax abatements by the Commissioners Court. The properties are all part of the Pride and Progress Program started by Vidor about four years ago.
The abatements are given for properties to enhance improvements in blighted areas of the city and cover seven years of abatement of municipal taxes beginning with 100 percent the first two years. Orange County has agreed to include the abatements for county taxes.
Commissioner Robert Viator was the mayor of Vidor when the program was originated. He said it has been very successful for the city.
The Mauriceville Heritage Association was approved $4,000 from the Hotel Occupancy Tax funds. Economic Development Executive Director Jessica Hill recommended the funds be granted by the Commissioners Court to cover the proposed 2020 Community Togetherness Event in Mauriceville. The expected date for the event is July 25.
The Court approved acceptance of a portion of West Bluff Road into the County Maintenance Program. The acceptance is conditional on the section of road being de-annexed by the City of Orange and a payment of $100,000 from a pipeline company which damaged a portion of the road.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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