The Commissioners Court held a special session Tuesday. The bulk of the meeting was to hear updates concerning Hurricane Laura.
Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin said contractors have removed over 360,637 cubic yards of green debris from Laura in their first pass. Another 40,000 cubic yards of debris remains.
Ardoin told the Commissioners that the estimated cost of the cleanup will be slightly higher than originally estimated being extended to $4.7 million, and Orange County should meet the FEMA threshold for Public Assistance although the numbers are not completely validated yet. Ardoin was not as optimistic about the citizens of the county becoming eligible for Individual Assistance from the federal government.
Citizens were urged again by Ardoin to separate their debris into stacks of vegetation, construction, and white goods or the contractors will not pick up debris that is stacked all together. The debris should be pushed as close to the curb as possible without blocking any roadway or ditch.
County Engineer Clark Slacum recommended the county purchase a grappler truck which could be used to move debris too. The Court approved the purchase.
Approval was given to continue to waive all building permit fees in the county through October 31. The Court approved at its previous meeting to keep the Citizen Collection Station at the landfill open Tuesday through Saturday with all fees waived until Tuesday, October 13.
One voting precinct box will have a new location for the General Election on November 3. The church in Mauriceville which has been the box’s location is conducting school classes in its building during weekdays.
The Commissioners approved at the recommendation of Elections Administrator Tina Barrow moving the voting location to the Precinct 2 Commissioner’s office on Highway 62. Commissioner Theresa Beauchamp was pleased to have the voting take place in her new office.
The Commissioners Court approved a resolution to issue a $45,000 grant to the Texans Feeding Texans: Home Delivered Meal Program. The grant will be part of the Texas Department of Agriculture program to fund it. Karen Stevens with Texans Feeding Texans accepted the resolution.
A proclamation approved by the Commissioners recognized National 4-H Week from October 4 to October 10. County 4-H coordinator Franny Woods reminded that the Orange County AgriLife Office in cooperation with 4-H will conduct the Orange County Livestock Show at the T2 Arena on Saturday, October 10.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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