A contractor to restore the marble façade on the front of the Orange County Courthouse was approved Wednesday by the Commissioners Court. Marsh Waterproofing of Vidor will handle the historic rehabilitation of the Courthouse.
Commissioner Theresa Beauchamp is eager to get repairs started on the marble façade. Beauchamp exclaimed she is very excited and is ready as is the whole county to move on getting the marble repaired. “This belongs and represents the citizens of Orange County, and they’re going to have something to be proud of,” Beauchamp promised.
Beauchamp followed up by asking the project’s architect Dohn LaBiche how long before the 120-day contract with Marsh Waterproofing begins and the construction can start. LaBiche responded that when all the paperwork like insurance certificates, bonds, and any other needed items are signed by the appropriate persons, he will issue the notice to proceed to the contractor. LaBiche estimated that process to take about two weeks. The hoped for July 4, 2019 completion date will be missed, but it could be completed by the end of the summer.
Representatives with the Texas General Land Office (GLO) updated the Commissioners Court on their agency’s Homeowners Assistance Program. They were proud to announce the rebuilding of the first house under the program in Orange County got started Monday.
Over 600 applications have been received locally for the program. The GLO has its office in the Orange County Convention and Expo Center. The office is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays for citizens to ask questions and to determine if they are eligible to apply for the Homeowners Assistance Program. Repairs can be done up to $50,000 for those residences that are eligible.
An additional set of buildings, most of them portable buildings or pavilions at Claiborne West Park, were to be considered for coverage on the county’s National Flood Insurance Program. The Commissioners agreed to approve the third term on the insurance policy which is due to expire on April 18. Then the county will get with a licensed surveyor to determine the elevation of any of the additional buildings it wants to have covered by insurance.
The Commissioners Court accepted the road bond by Hilcorp Energy Company to cover any potential damage to four roads in the county Abes, Ivy, Hibiscus, and Honeysuckle Drive. The $80,000 bond posted by Hilcorp will allow them to bore at least five feet under the roads to install a 4-inch salt water disposal pipeline to connect two oil wells. Hilcorp also paid a $480 permit fee.
No action was taken on amending the right-of-way and the easement for ExxonMobil at the Orange County Airport. ExxonMobil withdrew its request because the 36-inch depth requirement for burying pipelines was not agreeable to Orange County.
The Commissioners Court issued a proclamation declaring April as National Safe Digging Month (above). Representatives with Shell Pipeline Brent Byrd, Phil Barker, and James Lawrence received a copy of the proclamation.
Retiring pastor John W. Harrell (above) was recognized for his 48 years of service with the Bridge City United Pentecostal Church. The church’s new pastor Murray Ray whose father worked for the Orange County Sheriff’s Office received the proclamation and thanked the Commissioners Court for the recognition of Harrell’s contribution to the Bridge City community.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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