The Commissioners Court discussed and heard citizens’ comments for over an hour on an abatement agreement for Chevron Phillips Chemical during its meeting on Tuesday. In the end Court voted unanimously to approve the abatement for the chemical company.
The remaining twenty items on the agenda took about another hour to cover by the Commissioners Court. New vehicles were approved for the Road and Bridge Department. Three F250 XL Super Duty crew cab pickup trucks will be purchased from a dealership in Rockdale, Texas. Commissioner Robert Viator was concerned that there were no local bids received by the purchasing office for the trucks. Purchaser Connie Cassidy said bids were sought by local dealers. The vehicles will cost $35,958 each.
The Commissioners approved rejecting all the bids received for three other vehicles. Cassidy informed that the request for bids was only advertised once and state law requires it be advertised twice. Cassidy will advertise again and re-bid.
The Maintenance Department will get a NiftyLift TM64 from All Around Access in Florida with the approval from the Court. The equipment will lift workers up to do necessary work off the ground. The item will cost $64,600.
Traylor and Associates will be the recommended administrator for a Community Development Block Grant for the county. An appointed committee reviewed and scored the bids from several companies and Traylor got the best score. The Court will approve awarding a contract to Traylor at a later meeting.
The Commissioners approved amending the contract with the Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission in connection to the county’s Transportation Department. The grant involved was raised by about $90,000.
The Orange County Mosquito Control District will be allowed to fly at low altitudes for spraying after a waiver was approved by the Court on Tuesday. The waiver will allow the district’s aircraft to fly below 500 feet while spraying for mosquitoes in areas of the county.
Parks Director Sabrina Gray spoke to the Commissioners about a concern with the Claiborne West Park reopening to the public who frequently bring bounce houses and other equipment that could have a risk for small children using the equipment. It was suggested to only use vendors that issue the equipment that are listed as insured. Signs may be posted at the entrance to Claiborne West Park and near the pavilions where the groups set up the equipment that everyone using such equipment does so at their own risk.
Sheriff Keith Merritt and his deputies who oversee the Orange County Jail were recognized and applauded for their work in the facility. The jail passed another unannounced jail inspection earlier this year by the state jail commission. A few maintenance items are needed for the roughly fifty-year old jail according to the commission’s report. The commission will perform another inspection probably in the summer to see how well the county has complied with the items noted.
Eight trust properties were approved for sale on bids submitted to Karen Fisher in the Tax Assessor-Collector’s Office. The total bids were for over $27,000 and will put those properties back on the tax rolls.
A workshop was held by the Commissioners Court on Tuesday morning. The Policy/Grievance Committee made recommendations that two policies eliminated by a previous Commissioners Court be reinstated. The two policies were the Maternal and Paternal Leave and the Catastrophic Leave. James Scales with the committee said the Maternal and Paternal Leave Policy granted six weeks leave for employees when it was in effect.
The Catastrophic Leave was for employees with serious illnesses or injuries and granted them up to 30 days leave. The workshop does not allow the Commissioners Court to take action, but the members all did seem to be in favor of re-instating both policies if the items were presented as agenda items during an official meeting.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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