The annual audit for the City of West Orange was received by the City Council on Monday. For the second year in a row certified public accountant Curtis Craig performed the audit for West Orange.
Craig summarized the audit indicating the city is in good financial shape. There was no debt for the city in the ten years the auditor checked. Craig added, “The general fund balance is very, very healthy.” He informed the City Council the fund balance was over $4.88 million.
Mayor Roy McDonald said West Orange is blessed to have such a good audit thanks to the excellent work by the city’s staff. McDonald praised the work of City Secretary Theresa Van Meter and all of her staff for their efforts. He credited them for the audit being completed with no findings against the city.
West Orange will be holding its municipal election on May 4. Three candidates will be seeking to fill two at large positions on the City Council. Randy Branch, Brent Dearing, and Patty Cook will be on the ballot. Sybil Hughes was approved Monday as Election Judge, and Brenda Fleming was selected to be the alternate judge.
An interlocal agreement between West Orange and the PACE group was approved. PACE is similar to other purchasing associations. It charges no additional fees to the city for using it. Public Works Director Mike Stelly will serve as the authorized representative for the city. Stelly as the police chief in West Orange will also apply for a grant to obtain rifle resistant body armor for the police department.
Approval was given by the council to seek an Economic Development Administration grant on behalf of the Orange County Water Control and Improvement District #2. The district wants to relocate and expand the Waste Water Treatment Plant to higher ground at basically the same location.
Approval was given to a resolution supporting a request from Orange County to have the state legislature change the state tax code concerning the use of Hotel Occupancy Tax (HOT) money. The county wants to use HOT funds for a pavilion.
The City Council approved retaining both Richard Moreno and William Fontenot as full-time employees of the city. Both have reportedly done very well in their temporary trial period of employment with West Orange.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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