County Commissioner Barry Burton met with representatives from Way Services twice this week. Way Services has worked on multiple energy efficiency projects to buildings owned by Orange County.
Burton said the first meeting was with the maintenance coordinator of Way to discuss how close to completion are the projects. The two parties agreed that the project was completed July 1 except for a few punch hole items. Way asked for some extra time to finish those and the county approved. Burton said, “The official completion date has now been accepted as October 1.”
At least one advantage for Orange County of pushing the completion date back to October 1 according to Burton is all the warranties on new equipment added by Way will now start October 1. That means the county will get several months of free warranties.
A second meeting was with the County Auditor Pennee Schmitt, Assistant County Attorney Denise Gremillion, and legal representatives from Way Services. Burton stated that meeting was to discuss bonds and other paperwork involved in the contract with Way. “Those documents should be ready for approval by October 1 as well,” Burton informed.
Orange County worked with Way to develop plans for repairs to the historic Orange County Courthouse. The county has been approved for a grant to help pay for the repairs to the marble façade on the front of the Courthouse.
This week the county actually received a sizeable check of $50,000 from Way Services that originally was intended to install generators in various county buildings. When the generators did not meet specifications, Way returned the check.
The money will be used to serve as matching funds for a grant from the Texas Historical Commission. Barry Burton serves as the liaison for the Commissioners Court on the repairs to the Courthouse and reported the county has hit a detour in the process to get the marble re-attached to the Courthouse structure.
Several questions arose on an easement that is included in the agreement for the grant. The other counties that received the same grant this year and in previous years have all agreed to those stipulations. Burton said, “We will straighten these concerns out to put people’s minds at rest.”
Burton indicated that legal counsel for the Commissioners Court Gremillion has about five questions for Britt Barr with the Texas Historical Commission to answer. Following those responses, Burton is hopeful the paperwork for the grant can get the signature of County Judge Dean Crooks in the next week or two and the process will move forward again. The grant money will not be received though until the work is completed.
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