The holiday schedule for Orange County employees during calendar year 2020 was approved Tuesday by the Commissioners Court. Setting the dates early allow the District Attorney’s office and local attorneys to plan for cases that will be tried on dates when the courts are open.
The holiday that came into question were the three days off for Christmas. The Court on the advice of Commissioner John Gothia approved Thursday, December 24, Friday, December 25, and Monday, December 28, as days off for the employees. It will mean a five-day weekend for them to celebrate Christmas. Gothia suggested that schedule since it was the same holidays being used by the school districts in the county.
The days approved as holidays in calendar year 2020 for county employees were: Wednesday, January 1, New Year’s Day; Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King, Junior Day; Monday, February 17, Presidents Day; Monday, March 2, Texas Independence Day; Friday, April 10, Good Friday; Monday, May 25, Memorial Day; Friday, July 3, Independence Day; Monday, September 7, Labor Day; Wednesday, November 11, Veterans Day; Thursday, November 26, and Friday, November 27, for Thanksgiving Day. Then are the three days approved for the Christmas holiday.
The Commissioners approved renewing the agreement with Five Star Correctional Services to provide food for the inmates at the Orange County Jail. Sheriff Keith Merritt indicated the price went up three cents per meal, but is still within his department’s budget at a cost of only six dollars a meal.
Approval was given by the Commissioners for the purchase of an 18-foot airboat and trailer to be used by the Emergency Management Department. The cost of the boat will be $87,364 and will be paid for by a Rebuild Texas Fund Hurricane Harvey grant.
The Interlocal Agreement between Orange County and the Orange County Navigation and Port District was renewed for an additional year. The agreement was initiated in November 2017 to allow the county to lease the property at the old Navy Base owned by the Port District.
The buildings and grounds at the base are used by non-profit organizations assisting local residents with recovery from Tropical Storm Harvey. Special Projects Coordinator Michelle Tubbleville informs that requests from citizens for help are still being received by Orange County Disaster Rebuild. These cases will be handled by volunteers housed at the old Navy Base that also use the shops and other facilities there.
A division of a 1.53 acre tract in Precinct 2 met with approval from the Commissioners Court. The property located between West Fox, East Fox, and North Dana Circle Road will be divided into three smaller tracts. The property is located in the extra-territorial jurisdiction of the City of Orange. The city and the Orange County Drainage District have both approved the division.
May was recognized as Elder Abuse Prevention Month by the Commissioners Court. Case workers with Adult Protective Services strive to help elderly and disabled adults from being abused.
National Men’s Health Month is in June for Orange and Jefferson Counties sponsored by the Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” program. Health screenings for prostate cancer, HIV, blood pressure, Hepatitis C, and other diseases will be conducted Saturday, June 29, from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon at the Shahan Events Facility on the Lamar State College-Orange campus. The Commissioners approved a proclamation recognizing June as National Men’s Health Month in Orange County.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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