The City Council in Orange approved the demolition bids for 19 substandard structures during its meeting Tuesday. One demolition bid for a structure was rejected.
The meeting began with a public hearing on ten other substandard and dilapidated residential structures, five of which are located in the 100-year Floodplain. Planning director Kelvin Knauf said his department is working on demolition procedures for 98 properties and has already filled his list for demos in 2022 and 2023.
Knauf reported it will cost the City of Orange $499,800 which is $300,000 over his department’s annual budget to demolish the almost one hundred properties that have been identified as substandard. “I am working on the lists for 2024 and 2025, we have already demolished 88 properties since 2016,” added Knauf.
The City Council heard an update from Marvin Benoit the new building official for the City of Orange on the FEMA Flood Map. Benoit had a map showing the previous flood hazard areas and the current flood hazard map that will go into effect in December 2021.
Benoit detailed an area that was previously designated as a Zone X or good against flooding by FEMA has now been designated as a Flood Hazard Area on the new map. “Some of the new development off of Cypresswood, the Lowe addition, the properties up near Old Timers Road, off of Tulane Road, the area north off of Strickland or Park like Lindenwood and Westwood now they too will be in a special flood hazard area,” Benoit observed.
The council approved the ordinance corresponding to the new FEMA Flood Map. Councilman Brad Childs cast the lone vote against the ordinance stating FEMA made it too cumbersome and was a bit of a governmental overreach.
Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) funds totaling $185,000 were distributed to 12 entities. Those receiving HOT funds from the City of Orange are:
Lutcher Theater $50,000
Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce $50,000
Krewe de Onyx $35,000
Heritage House of Orange County Association $25,000
Orange Lions Club $ 5,000
Gate City Guild #42 $ 3,000
Orange Depot $ 3,000
Orange African American Museum $ 3,000
Adventures 2000 Plus $ 3,000
Gulf Coast Cajuns Chapter $ 3,000
Dragon Lady Airboat Services $ 3,000
South East Texas Arts Council $ 2,000
New contracts with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1432 of Orange and the Orange Municipal Police Association were approved by the council. City Manager Mike Kunst said these were the first municipal contracts in quite a long time between the City of Orange and first responders that were for more than one year. Both contracts are for three years starting this year and have been approved by the respected unions.
The City Council appointed Christopher Cowart and Tiffany Bell to fill two seats on the Planning and Zoning Commission. Bell currently serves on the Board of Adjustment and will have to decide on which board she will serve because citizens are prohibited from serving on both boards.
An Economic Development Corporation Infrastructure Grant not to exceed $300,000 was approved for the Little Cypress Grove subdivision. The Little Cypress Grove addition will eventually have 192 new homes with 88 in Phase One. The Free State Cellars was approved an Infrastructure Grant not to exceed $167,000 to enlarge its business.
Four municipal projects had contractors approved at the recommendation of Public Works Director Jim Wolf. Arceneaux Wilson & Cole will do the engineering for $115,830 on the Greenway Park Storm Water improvements. Fittz & Shipman will engineer the work for $54,800 on the West Side Water Extension Phase 1 project. Schaumburg & Polk was hired for $92,800 to engineer improvements on the Meeks Drive Water Plant improvements. Arceneaux Wilson & Cole will be paid $12,720 for engineering services for lift station improvements on Burton Avenue, Simmons Drive, and Jackson Street.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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