Orange is becoming a destination for elite fishing groups. BASS Masters has held two tournaments locally and a redfish tournament is coming to Orange next April. The Commissioners Court Tuesday approved using HOT funds to assist bringing the BASS University 2016 Class to Orange County. John Gothia said the BASS Class is another great way of promoting the outstanding fishing in this area.
Gothia informed the Commissioners that the BASS Class brings about 250 people to the area to be taught fishing techniques by six elite BASS Masters fishermen. There are only five of these classes a year, and for Orange to be targeted as one of the locations speaks to the outstanding fishing locations here and the phenomenal fan base for fishing found in the Orange County area. Gothia summarized it will be a good opportunity for us in Orange. The BASS Class will be in mid-January, probably the weekend of January 23 and 24. The Court approved using $10,000 in Hotel Occupancy Tax to help draw the two-day class to Orange County.
The Commissioners Court approved an order Tuesday to regulate the sale of retail fireworks in Orange County for three specific times of the year. The county already regulates firework sales during certain holidays like the Fourth of July and New Year’s Day. Tuesday’s action will now include the week prior to Texas Independence Day in early March, San Jacinto Day in April, and Memorial Day in late May.
HeadTurners3 was approved to conduct and promote the Yellowfin Elite Series Classic Redfish Tournament at the Orange Boat Ramp during April of next year. Emergency Management Coordinator Ryan Peabody gave a report of the projects and actions taken by his department since he assumed the coordinator’s position in January.
Valli Lott with the Transportation Department requested a line item transfer for the purchase of a tough notebook computer to help calibrate propane buses for her department. The Court was reluctant to approve the $2400 for the new computer. Brian Shajari the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator informed Lott that he has several computers in their office that might be used once the appropriate software which Lott has is downloaded on them. They were going to get together to see if the computers would be compatible for the software.
The Commissioners Court did meet with County Attorney Doug Manning concerning the Montano lawsuit against Orange County in a closed session, but no action was taken when the Court reconvened in open session. A federal jury awarded the Montano more than a million dollars in their wrongful death lawsuit concerning the death of Robert Montano in the Orange County Jail in 2011.
Social Media