The City of Orange is cutting its funding to the Southeast Texas Arts Council by $31,163 this year. The city previously gave the arts council $50,000. The director of the arts group told City Council Tuesday that the arts group gives $30,000 of the city money to the Lutcher Theater for performances. Sue Bard said the Stark Foundation pays for the theater building and operations but not the performances. The information came as the City Council held a public hearing on spending about $565,000 in hotel occupancy taxes paid by the people who stay in local hotels. Most of the money, $378,000, … [Read more...] about City of Orange Cuts Funding of Southeast Texas Arts Council
Renovations on Old Southern Printers Building to Begin in Mid-October
Renovations on the old Southern Printers building in downtown could start by early to mid-October, Economic Development Director Jay Trahan told Orange City Council Tuesday. The council and the separate Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors voted once more to invest $350,000 to develop the old building into loft apartments, plus a restaurant and shops. The agreement is with Orange native Michael Wray, a developer with Brazos Urban of Austin. Trahan told the council the city attorney and Wray have not finished the formal contract. The city is supposed to give the money in payments … [Read more...] about Renovations on Old Southern Printers Building to Begin in Mid-October
Officer John Dee Taylor Assigned to Code Enforcement
Orange is now using a uniformed, certified police officer for code enforcements on unkempt yards, dilapidated buildings and junk cars. City Manager Shawn Oubre told City Council this morning that he made the decision after the previous code enforcement officer retired. “We’re not changing how we do it but who is doing it,” Oubre said. Planning Director Jimmie Lewis, who supervises code enforcement, said the change is working because more people are complying with the city's request to clean up their property after a police officer with a badge and gun visit. However, Councilwoman Essie … [Read more...] about Officer John Dee Taylor Assigned to Code Enforcement
Orange Firefighters Negotiating New Contract
The City of Orange and the Orange firefighters can't agree on a contract, but did agree not to declare an impasse for negotiations until Sept. 29. City management met Tuesday with the International Association of Firefighters Local 1432. The city is offering a 2 1/4 percent pay raise. Non-union city employees are getting a 2 percent raise. The firefighters want a 4 percent pay raise for the next three years. Firefighters' negotiator Louis Hebert said Orange firefighters are about $4,000 behind in salary for Nederland, Port Neches and Port Arthur, even though Orange personnel pay about $100 a … [Read more...] about Orange Firefighters Negotiating New Contract
The City of Vidor to Host Trash Off on Saturday, September 20th
The City of Vidor will be hosting a Trash Off on Saturday, September 20 beginning at 7 am, at 155 Watts Street. Any resident of the City of Vidor or any residential customer of the City of Vidor sanitation department may use the roll-off dumpsters for free, with the exception of no contractors or commercial accounts. The normal rules for what is accepted at the City dumpsters apply so no hazardous waste such as motor oil, chemicals, paints, tires, etc. There will be a dumpster to collect metal recyclables and the limb yard will be open for yard debris. Due to the overwhelming response of the … [Read more...] about The City of Vidor to Host Trash Off on Saturday, September 20th
November 4th Election Decisions Facing Orange County Voters
Texans have been focusing on the governor's race in the November 4 general election, but in Orange County different voters may think an alcoholic beverages wet-dry issue is the most important. Other local voters may find that a school bond issue is the drawing card to the voting boxes, or perhaps a special sales tax to finance firefighters. Orange County Elections Administrator Tina Barrow said the county will have general election ballots for offices. People living in Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 will also decide on whether or not to sell beer, wine or alcoholic beverages. Two options … [Read more...] about November 4th Election Decisions Facing Orange County Voters
Orange City Council Considering $27.6 Million Budget
The Orange City Council is considering a $27.6 million budget for the new fiscal year. More than half of that amount will be spent to pay salaries and benefits of city employees. The city has 194 full-time workers and two part-time. Many of them work for the police and fire departments. City Manager Shawn Oubre presented a break-down of the expenses in a letter to the council. The city pays 58.5 percent of the budget on personnel. The next largest expenditure category is for maintenance and services with 24.1 percent. Those items would include keeping the water and sewer departments running, … [Read more...] about Orange City Council Considering $27.6 Million Budget
Orange County Police Calls
A woman living in the 2200 block of Coronado Place left her SUV running in the driveway Tuesday morning to go back into her house for a couple of minutes. That's all the time someone needed to steal the vehicle. The woman called Orange police at 7:38 a.m. to report that her 2011 gray Kia Sorento was stolen. Johnny Manziel isn't the only person getting in trouble for his gestures. A man from Orange was arrested late Monday morning for resisting arrest after police went to check on complaints about a man making "inappropriate gestures." Officer Patrick McDonald went to the 2200 block of 16th … [Read more...] about Orange County Police Calls
Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Faced Leg Amputation
Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace Derry Dunn isn't sitting on his bench wearing a robe these days. He's propped up in bed, wearing shorts, with a small medical device connected to hoses taped around the calf of his right leg. Every couple of minutes the machine starts up and makes a noise. It's a wound vacuum doing its job to help heal the two large holes in Dunn's leg. The bedside table is covered in prescription pill bottles of all sizes. But at least he's home in Mauriceville. He spent 14 of the past 16 days in hospitals. Dunn is a survivor of what is called 'flesh-eating' bacteria. He … [Read more...] about Flesh-Eating Bacteria Victim Faced Leg Amputation
County Budget Workshops Continue
Budget workshops for the county have been held the last couple of weeks and will continue next week as well. During discussions at the workshop this afternoon the topic of the county needing to borrow money to pay bills for the final quarter was raised. County Auditor Mary Johnson joined County Judge Carl Thibodeaux and Commissioner John Banken in agreement on the strong possibility the county will need to borrow money. Thibodeaux said the county will need to include the interest in next year’s budget, but Banken does not want to wait until the last minute like last year. Johnson said County … [Read more...] about County Budget Workshops Continue
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