Justice of the Peace Derry Dunn addresses the court on Tuesday.
Elected officials got mostly good news Tuesday from the Commissioners Court. In a vote of 3-2 the Court approved proposed salaries for elected county and precinct officers. The change in salaries will mean a pay raise for many of the elected officials and an increase in the county budget.
County Judge Brint Carlton suggested in a workshop Tuesday morning actually lowering the salaries of Sheriff Keith Merritt and Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Derry Dunn. During the regular meeting Tuesday afternoon Judge Carlton conceded to leave all salaries unchanged.
Commissioner John Banken, however, made a motion to bring all elected county officials’ salaries to the same level of $70,500 with the exception of the County Judge and Sheriff along with the two Court at Law Judges. Commissioners David Dubose and Barry Burton supported Banken’s motion and approved the proposed salaries which would go into effect October 1, 2016.
The proposed salaries will be published for at least 10 days before a final vote on them is taken by the Commissioners Court on Tuesday, September 13. The pay changes represent the first pay increase in eight years for elected officials and will increase the budget for next year by about $100,000.
The Commissioners Court will consider a resolution at a future meeting to approve grant money for the Orange County Meals on Wheels program. The Commissioners discussed during their morning workshop taking the money that the county has spent on drivers and vehicles as an in-kind donation and give a grant in that amount to Meals on Wheels which can be used to apply for a Texas Department of Agriculture grant called Texans feeding Texans which would double the amount of the grant. County Judge Carlton said he will average the in-kind donations of drivers and vehicles the county has made over the last few years and prepare a resolution that will ask for a grant in that amount to be given to Meals on Wheels. Director Linda Hughes said it would be very helpful to keep the program going in Orange County.
The Court did approve making all county property and vehicles off limits for smoking or any tobacco products. Signs will be erected informing persons coming to the Courthouse and other buildings that there is no smoking allowed within 25 feet of the buildings. Ashtrays will be set up as somewhat designated smoking areas for the county buildings.
The county is considering combining several departments. The Commissioners approved Tuesday combining the Emergency Management and Airport/Risk Management Departments. With the combination the position of Airport/Risk Management supervisor was also changed from an exempt position to a non-exempt position which would be a reduction in pay. The position is currently vacant and will be open for applications by October 1.
Further study is needed before the Commissioners Court will decide on combining the Maintenance Department and the Parks Department. This move would eliminate a director’s position salary. Supervisors would be over the Maintenance and Parks sections with a single director’s position over both.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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