The City of West Orange got some good news Monday concerning the grant to upgrade the city’s Waste Water Treatment Plant. The city’s cost to the grant administrator will be reduced.
The grant originally was for over eight million dollars to perform the work to improve the facility. Project Manager Melinda Smith with the grant’s administrator Traylor & Associates reported the EDA has reduced the expected cost for the rehabilitation of the plant.
The cost of the project has been lowered to $6.25 million. Traylor & Associates’ fee was based on the cost of the project. Smith said, “We’re going to reduce our contract accordingly from 250 thousand to 175 thousand.”
Traylor & Associates was approved by the City Council to handle the administration service for a Texas Community Development Block Grant. This grant will be used to do improvements on Austin Street from Holly Street to the end of Austin.
An application for a solid waste collection franchise was approved for 2S Roll-off Service. The franchise will allow the company to collect solid waste from dumpsters at businesses or residences in West Orange.
The city is preparing for the next possible round of money from FEMA to pay for recovery from the Harvey disaster. The council approved the city soliciting proposals for administration and engineering services for future mitigation grants.
The City Council authorized Mayor Roy McDonald to award emergency mitigation grants for six generators in the West Orange water and sewer system. The West Orange Water Control District had already awarded the contracts for $1.3 million.
The anticipated discussion of a sub-standard structure on Elkport was tabled until the next meeting. Deanna Laughlin who requested the item be on the agenda was not able to attend the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting Mike Owens announced he represents a group of local volunteers that will perform search and rescue. Team 409 is similar to the Cajun Navy, but are composed of local citizens to help local people during disaster situations.
Owens informed the West Orange City Council that his group has boats, trucks, and 50 volunteers all with background checks. Team 409 Search and Rescue will conduct a meet and greet at Claiborne West Park on Sunday, December 29, beginning at 2:00 PM.
The West Orange City Hall and all city offices in West Orange will be closed December 24 and 25 for the Christmas holiday. The offices will also be closed December 31 and January 1, 2020 for the New Year’s Day holiday.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
The post WO Cost Reduced On Plant appeared first on KOGT.