The City Council approved a new ordinance Tuesday governing trash and litter in West Orange. The old Ordinance 147 was repealed and a new Ordinance 147-A was approved.
Mayor Roy McDonald explained the change made between the two ordinances deals with the penalties or fines to be charged if a citizen violates the ordinance. The previous ordinance set a maximum and a minimum that the fine could be, but could be subject to change anytime the state law was modified covering fines for littering. “We feel that it’s better just to say, that in accordance with state law, so that’s how we changed it,” McDonald said.
Approval was given by the council to applying for a 2019-2020 Community Development Block Grant with the Texas Department of Agriculture. The grant will be used to do street improvements in West Orange.
The signatories for contractual documents connected to a 2018-2019 Community Development Block Grant were approved to be Mayor McDonald, City Secretary Theresa Van Meter, and Director of Public Works Mike Stelly. The funds will be used to improve water and sewer service in the city.
West Orange will also apply for funds from two Homeland Security Grants and an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. One of the Homeland Security Grants is to cover terrorism prevention and protection for the West Orange Police Department. The Justice Assistance Grant is to help the police purchase equipment for the department.
A move is underway statewide to allow only property owners or property tax payers to vote in school district bond elections. The West Orange City Council unanimously approved a resolution Tuesday in support of legislation to limit voters in such bond elections to just property owners. A couple members of the council voiced it was time for such legislation since property owners are the ones that would have to pay the taxes if school bonds are approved.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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