Following a workshop on Tuesday the Commissioners Court approved during its regular meeting for the county to take over the operations at the Orange County Airport. The current operator at the airport Sabine Aviation informed the county its last day will be June 30.
The Commissioners Court considered seeking another commercial Fixed Based Operator (FBO) or have the county assume the responsibility. County Judge Dean Crooks thinks it is in the best interest of Orange County to operate in house and the Commissioners unanimously agreed.
Missy Pillsbury the airport supervisor asked that the Court consider purchasing mowing equipment for the grounds at the airport and hiring a part-time employee to supplement the one full-time employee already working for the county at the airport. The Commissioners Court also voted not to purchase the remaining fuel from Sabine Aviation that is currently in the airport’s fuel tanks.
No action was taken regarding the other workshop dealing with a pre-disaster contract covering Orange County and most of the cities in the county. The City of Orange was not included in the original plan. Orange has indicated it is now interested in participating with the county as well as doing its own pre-disaster contract.
The contract with Members Janitorial Service will be terminated at the end of June. The Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to send a notice of termination to Members. The county has used the contracted janitorial service for about two years.
Commissioner Jody Crump originally favored using contracted janitorial service to save the county money that is paid in salaries and benefits to county workers that previously did the janitorial duties. Even Crump voted to terminate Members. The Court appeared to be leaning towards returning to hiring county employees to do the work, but no vote was taken on how janitorial work would be handled after June.
The Commissioners Court voted 4 to 1 to have Spaw Glass repair the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 building for $104,155. Commissioner Barry Burton cast the lone dissenting vote because he thinks installing bullet proof glass and walls on a portable building would be quicker to erect and provide the same security as the building that is being repaired. A representative with Spaw Glass estimated they could have Judge Derry Dunn back in his court by the end of July.
At the request of Commissioner Johnny Trahan two new advisory committees were created. The first will be a Solid Waste Committee to review operations at the Orange County Landfill and make recommendations on making it more user friendly. Serving on that committee will be Trahan, Commissioner John Gothia, Human Resource Director Lori Ardoin, County Engineer Clark Slacum, and Dean Smith who works at the landfill.
The other committee will deal with replacing the current phone system at the Orange County Courthouse. It likewise will review and only make recommendations for replacing the antiquated system. County Judge Dean Crooks, Maintenance Director Kurt Guidry, MIS Director Lisa Reeves, Purchaser Connie Cassidy, and Evita Kimner a communications expert who has volunteered her expertise will serve on that committee.
A new Grievance Committee for county employees was appointed. Lori Ardoin had requested volunteers to serve on the committee and seven employees replied they were interested. Becky Selvidge served previously on the committee and will serve a two-year term. Also serving two-year terms are Trey Gilbert and Jennifer Fleming. Serving one-year terms are Denise Colley and James Scales. D. J. Jackson and Kim Peveto will serve as alternates. Future committee members will all serve two-year terms.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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