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Orange County employees will keep their 13 holidays for 2015 though there was some discussion to make it 12 holidays at the meeting of the Orange County Commissioners’ Court on Monday afternoon.

County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said the request to set the calendar was made early this year by the district courts so they can set cases accordingly.

Jody Crump, Precinct 4 commissioner, suggested doing away with one of the Christmas or one of the New Year’s holiday days to make it 12 for the year. Thibodeaux said he was not in favor of cutting any holidays.

The following 2015 holiday schedule was approved:

New Year’s Day on January 1 and 2

MLK Day on January 19

Texas Independence on March 2

Good Friday on April 3

Memorial Day on May 25

Independence Day on July 3

Labor Day on September 7

Veterans’ Day on November 11

Thanksgiving on November 26 and 27

Christmas on December 24 and 25

Commissioners approved waiving a six-week waiting period for hiring new employees in replacing outgoing risk/airport manager Frankie Walters. The request was made by Jeff Kelley, emergency management coordinator.

Gene Smith, veteran service officer for the county, requested to waive the six-week waiting period to fill a vacancy in his office. He was told his office had to wait the entire six weeks and he won’t know if hiring a new employee will be approved.

“We’re building a week to a 10-day backlog in our office and it’s growing,” Smith said.

A Investment Zone was approved for the International Paper plant. Bobby Fillyaw, Orange County Economic Development Corporation director, said the Investment Zone was created when Temple Inland owned the plant. The agreement is still under their name for legal reasons. The zone was set for seven years in 2007 and was set to expire on April 30. This agreement gives the county the ability to offer incentives if International Paper expands.

The court approved authorizing Clark Slacum, county engineer, to accept a Road Use Bond for $80,000 from Enterprise TED Products Pipeline Company LLC to insure the repair of county roads that may be damaged during the installation of a proposed 20-inch pipeline. The bond covers portions of S. Mansfield Ferry, Church House, Mimosa Loop, W. Hoo Hoo and Gulf Road. Slacum added these roads are in the southern part of the county and the company will offer an assurance they will pay to repair these roads if damaged.

Projects for the 2013 Routine Airport Maintenance Grant for the Orange County Airport were approved. The total estimated cost will be $68,949. The county’s portion and the state’s portion will each be $34,474.