County Judge Brint Carlton announced at the meeting of Commissioners Court Tuesday that he has selected Charlie Cox as the new Emergency Management Coordinator. Cox has 36 years experience as a fire fighter. He is currently with the Beaumont Fire Department. Cox has served all over the United States according to Carlton with experience in emergency response in fires and hurricanes. Judge Carlton thanked Missy Pillsbury for serving as the interim Emergency Management Coordinator and named her the Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator.
The Commissioners Court approved entering into an agreement with the City of Vidor regarding the Pride and Progress economic development program which awards tax abatement for new residential housing in Vidor. County Attorney Doug Manning will prepare the details of the agreement which is expected to follow the guidelines already established by Vidor in granting abatements in certain increments over a seven-year period. Commissioner John Banken did raise a question of joining the Vidor program since the city has withdrawn from the Orange County Economic Development Corporation. Vidor City Manager Mike Kunst and Mayor Robert Viator attended the meeting and said the Vidor City Council will consider rejoining the Orange County EDC at its meeting this week. Mayor Viator informed the Court that the Port District, Drainage District, and Water District have all joined the Pride and Progress program.
A resolution to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) was approved by the Commissioners Court requesting the speed limit on Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive be lowered from 70 to 55 miles per hour. Commissioner David Dubose received requests from two churches on MLK for the change because their congregations frequently find it unsafe to leave the church parking lots to get on the road which is also highway FM 3247. The two-lane highway is in the City of Orange which will also need to pass a resolution asking for the change in the speed limit. The change if made by TxDOT will affect the stretch of the road north from Interstate 10 to FM 1130 which is also Meeks Drive.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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