Orange County will function at least another week without a County Judge. The Commissioners Court Tuesday unanimously accepted the resignation of Dean Crooks as County Judge at the start of its meeting.
The meeting concluded with about a 50-minute closed executive session. The four Commissioners met with their legal counsel Assistant County Attorney Denise Gremillion and Human Resource Director Lori Ardoin in the closed-door session.
County Judge Pro Temp John Gothia announced afterwards in open session that no action would be taken that day by the Commissioners in naming a new County Judge. Gothia added that next week’s meeting will be moved to Wednesday afternoon since two Commissioners will be attending a meeting in Galveston on Tuesday, and a quorum would not be present for a meeting in Orange that day.
Gothia did not rule out a decision could be made at the Commissioners Court meeting next week. He admitted previously to KOGT, he would consider accepting an appointment as the new County Judge if it was offered him. Crooks did not attend the meeting, and his office in the Administration Building appeared to be vacant.
The Commissioners heard the resignation of another elected county official in the time provided for citizens comments at the beginning of the meeting. Chris Humble (above) the Constable in Precinct 1 said he would be retiring from his position at the end of March to take a job with the Stark Foundation beginning in April. Humble indicated he liked his job as constable, but will serve with the foundation as the Director of Safety and Security over its venues.
The Orange County Convention and Expo Center will be getting new sound equipment. Maintenance Director Kurt Guidry said the five-year old equipment currently used in the Expo Center has had problems. He recommended purchasing a Behringer Europower receiver and a four-channel wireless microphone set. The Commissioners approved purchasing the items for $798.99.
Guidry requested the purchase of a new Scotsman Ice Machine head to replace a three-year old head that is not functioning and is not warranted. The ice machine is in the county maintenance shop. The head will cost $2,519.00 to replace.
Tax Assessor-Collector Karen Fisher gave her monthly report on taxes received. In February the tax office had collected $12,887,108.58 representing 93.6 percent of taxes owed in the county for all taxing entities.
County Veterans Officer Mike Hammer updated the Commissioners on the number of veterans his office has seen in the last three months. The Veterans Office on FM 1442 is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. An employee is available on Fridays to answer phone calls.
At the recommendation of the Spindletop Center Board of Directors, Mike Marion was approved to fill the unexpired term of Billy C. Pruett on the board of directors. The term will expire on August 31, 2020.
Two plats of property in Precinct 4 were approved by the Commissioners. The two tracts of land received approval previously from the Orange County Drainage District.
Approval was given for the county to execute a bill of sale with Quality Parts Supply for a 2012 International Truck sold by the county during its online auction in September of last year. The title for the truck sold will be exchanged for another title of a similar truck that was accidentally given originally when the truck was sold.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
Social Media