Published: November 11, 2009 06:50 am      

Orange city officials strive to be more energy efficient with grants

During a meeting on Tuesday, the Orange City Council authorized City Manager Shawn Oubre to pursue all energy efficiency and conservation block grant funding.

The funds are being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to be used to assist in reaching the city’s goals of energy efficiency. City officials were recently informed of $50,000 the city could receive. They first had to respond with a letter of intent followed by a resolution. The city will not have to provide matching funds and could receive more money if other cities fail to meet the requirements or decline to participate in the program. With the money received city officials plan improve the energy efficiency of buildings. They will look at the lighting system and how they can make it more energy efficient.

On the consent agenda, council members passed several motions to allow the Economic Development Corporation to expend funds. These include $5,000 to complete the upgrade on Martin Luther King drive, $47,000 for the purchase, closing costs and cleanup of waterfront property, $2,430 for fencing at the newly purchased property at 207 and 211 Ninth Street and $138,560 for waterline system improvements.

Mayor Brown Claybar said during a report to the council that he was informed by Texas Department of Transportation, due to cutbacks, they would only be mowing the grass on 16th Street and Interstate 10 two times per year. They were mowing the grass four times per year.

“This is a real problem,” he said.

Claybar added, the only way to have the grass mowed more frequently was for the city to do it themselves. However, he said the budget for the city is “tight as well.”