The City of West Orange took a step closer Monday to demolishing five substandard structures in the city. Attorney Alan Sanders advised the City Council via telephone that the city should issue orders for demolishing the properties in question. Sanders informed the council that to his knowledge none of the property owners had made any improvements to the structures or received permits to begin any work in the eight years since Hurricane Ike.
The council unanimously approved ordering the demolition on the structures located at 1003 Albany, 2019 Bonnie, 2007 Crabtree, 1015 Lansing, and 2431 Smith. Mayor Roy McDonald explained the process for removing condemned structures includes contracting with demolition companies which will inspect the structures for hazardous items before tearing them down and cleaning off the property. McDonald said, “Ultimately, we will end up with some properties that are dangerous and substandard in our community being removed.”
West Orange uses grant money to tear down the substandard structures. Code Enforcement Officer Dean Fuller indicates these five demolitions are covered by the last grant the city has, but adds that West Orange has demolished approximately 50 structures since Hurricane Ike.
The council approved Monday retaining Jon Sherwin as West Orange’s street department supervisor. Approval was also given for Police Chief Mike Stelly to execute an inter-local agreement with the City of Orange regarding the Southeast Texas Regional Radio System which will allow West Orange to participate in a regionalized communication network.
Prior to the council meeting, a public hearing on the budget was held with no public comments received by the City Council. Public hearings on the proposed tax rate will be held Thursday, August 25, at 5:00 PM and Monday, August 29, at 5:00 PM. Both hearings will be in the West Orange Community Center. The proposed tax rate will not exceed 42.5 cents per $100 value which would represent no change from the current tax rate.
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