Commissioners look at OCEDC contract next week

The Orange County Commissioners Court proclaimed October, 2015 as National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Month proclaiming all residents should be empowered to live with dignity and self-determination. RECORD PHOTO: David Ball

David Ball - For The Record

The Orange County Commissioners Court will wait until next Monday before deciding to accept a contract between the Orange County Economic Development Corporation and the county through Dec. 31, 2015 at their meeting on the afternoon of September 21.

County Judge Brint Carlton said the OCEDC wanted to make sure they are operational through the end of the calendar year. There are residual funds already in the OCEDC budget.

Carlton said the court doesn't have a consensus on the contract and Assistant County Attorney Douglas Manning will look at the contact. A decision will be made by next week.

There was a public workshop prior to the regular meeting with information on applying for grants to repair the granite facade to the front entrance to the Orange County Courthouse.

Susan Gammage with the Historical Commission grants are capped at $6 million with the goal of making buildings usable. The Orange County Commissioners Court is interested because the granite facade to the front entrance is deteriorating.

There are three types of grants: planning, construction, and emergency as could be used for the facade.

The Historical Commission has restored 63 courthouses in Texas and communities sometimes experience an economic revitalization such as downtown economic development. There are 78 counties with approved master plans and 28 emergency planning grants have been given.

The emergency grants are capped at $450,000. The deadline to file is Dec. 11, 2015. Orange County may apply for an emergency grant and a construction grant simultaneously.

Gammage said she would serve as a liaison between the architect who would serve as the construction administrator.

Lynda Gunstream, tax assessor-collector, was reappointed the Orange County Appraisal District's Board of Directors for the 10th year.

Two proclamations were approved for Orange County.

The first was a kickoff of the United Way Campaign for the months of September, October, and November, 2015 as United Way Months.

Some of the main points of the proclamation read United Way advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for everyone. It focuses on education, income and health- which are the building blocks for a good quality of life- it takes every part of the community- individuals, businesses and organizations- to supply the passion expertise and resources needed to create lasting change for the better.

Last year, Orange County citizens generously contributed their volunteer energies as well as more than 4892,933 to the United Way, thereby investing in programs and initiatives that improve lives and build stronger communities.

The other proclamation declared October, 2015 as National Long-Term Care Residents' Rights Month.

The proclamation read there are more than 1.6 million individuals living in 16,000 nursing homes; and one million individuals living in 50,000 board and care/assisted living facilities in the U.S. All residents should be aware of their rights so they may be empowered to live with dignity and self-determination.

Individuals and groups across the country will be celebrating Resident's Rights Month with the theme- "CARE Matters"- to emphasize the importance of affirming these rights through facility practices, public policy and resident-centered decision-making.