Orange County is waiting to receive a presidential disaster declaration on the public side in order to be eligible for federal relief. The county has completed its paperwork and submitted it to FEMA, but other counties have not completed their documentation which is delaying the disaster declaration being made.
County Emergency Management Coordinator Joel Ardoin gave an update to the Commissioners Court Tuesday on items related to Imelda natural disaster. Ardoin told the Commissioners the damage to the Vidor schools alone allowed Orange County to meet its federal threshold of damage.
Ardoin added that counties bordering Orange County have also completed the required documentation. The counties affected by Imelda need to meet a $37 million threshold before the state can apply for the presidential declaration. Once all the counties reach their threshold Texas will apply for the disaster declaration which if granted by President Donald Trump would make Orange County eligible for funds from FEMA.
When Orange County receives FEMA funds contractors can be hired to perform debris removal for the county. Currently the Texas Department of Transportation has removed 1400 cubic yards of debris on state highways and farm-to-market highways since it started this week. The county Road and Bridge Department has picked up 752 cubic yards of debris taking it to the old county landfill.
The Commissioners Court voted to table a decision on reinstating an Ag Agent for the county’s Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Office. The position had been phased out previously and was not budgeted for the current fiscal year. AgriLife Coordinator Fallon Foster has been managing the office and requested the position be filled. The position would carry a salary and benefits totaling $41,085.
The Court understood the need for another Ag Agent, but having not budgeted the position for this year and with the money being spent on recovery from Imelda the contingency fund to pay for the position is very tight. The request to reinstate the position will be considered at next week’s Commissioners Court meeting.
Tax Assessor-Collector Karen Fisher gave her annual report for collections for the year ending in September. Her office collected over $145 million during the year representing a 97 percent collection of the taxes due.
The Environmental Health & Code Compliance Department was approved to apply for grant funds. Grants totaling $9,000,000 in three categories were approved by the Commissioners. Approval was given for $2,625 in retail courses. All the applications will be to the federal Food and Drug Administration.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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