By Michael Cole

The Orange Leader

The Court jumped right into business on the second day of 2020.

Joel Ardoin, Orange County Emergency Management Coordinator, brought final debris numbers for Tropical Storm Imelda.

“As the debris goes, the total that was collected for the city of Vidor was 37,247 cubic yards, Rose City collected 101.4 cubic yards, Orange County collected 28,206.9 cubic yards for a grand total 0f 65,557 cubic yards,” Ardoin stated

Ardoin also informed the court in regard to the status of the public disaster declaration concerning Tropical Storm Imelda.

“Before the holidays a letter was sent,” Ardoin said. “However, the state has still not added the totals up. So, that is where we are.”

After TS Imelda, a disaster was declared for private residences and business. However, one was not declared for public entities such as counties and cities. Unless one is declared, government entities are required to cover the cost of cleanup and recovery without FEMA reimbursement.

Ardoin had no time frame in which a determination could be made.

In an update with maintenance, the court was told that progress was being made on several buildings around the county. 

The Raymond Gould Center, in Vidor, is expected to be ready in about four weeks. The pavilions and the restrooms at Claiborne West Park are being worked on at this time.

Bids have come in on the repair works for the Precinct Two office, and they are slated to be decided on in the next court meeting.

The court went into a closed meeting, pursuant to Tex. Gov. Code 551.074. Those meetings are set “to deliberate the appointment, employment, evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public officer or employee, or to hear a complaint or a charge against one or more officers or employees.”

No action was taken on the closed-door meeting except to approve a transfer of salary differences from the Justice of the Peace Precinct 2 to Justice of the Peace Precinct 3.