By Dawn Burleigh

dawn.burleigh@orangeleader.com

Orange County Engineer Clark Slacum, in a proactive approach, requested approval for a rental agreement allowing Road and Bridge to rent equipment in the event equipment broke down.

“Currently the equipment is running, but if it breaks down we are at a halt on road work until repairs can be made,” Slacum said.

One such equipment has broken down twice already this year. Work was delayed while repairs were implemented.

To rent a Bow Mag or Recycler, both needed in road construction, could cost as little at $2,500 a day or $15,000 a month.

“I would like to be able to rent the equipment without waiting until the following week to get it on the agenda,” Slacum said.

The rental company, based out of Houston, would take at least one day to delivery the equipment.

The agenda item originally would have authorized the County Judge to sign the agreements. County Attorney Douglas Manning suggested authorizing the county engineer to sign the potential rental agreements.

“I am wanting a preemptive arrangements and not have to wait if equipment breaks,” Slacum said.

The court approved allowing Road and Bridge Department to rent equipment and authorize the county engineer to sign the rental agreements, providing the rental expenses are covered by existing Road and Bridge Department’s budget.

County Auditor Mary Johnson asked if the projects the department were working on were grant related.

Slacum said the projects are not Hurricane Ike grant projects but may be CERT grant related.

“If they are in-house, fine. If they are CERTs, maybe it will be ok,” Johnson said. “If they are grant related, they have to be handled otherwise.”

Also, in need of equipment, Maintenance Director Kurt Guidry requested approval for purchasing a Delta Model #28-400, 14-inch, one horsepower steel frame band saw for $549.

Due to anticipated projects at the airport and at the Orange County Jail, Guidry said the saw was needed for cabinetry work.

“We would prefer to do the work in-shop,” Guidry told the commissioners. “We did all the work here.” Guidry pointed out several areas of woodwork inside the Commissioners’ Courtroom.

In other court business, the discussion of an Animal Shelter for Orange County was passed on as the people to speak were not in attendance of the Tuesday meeting.