CAROLINE BREWTON
SPORTS VIEWS
Feature Columnist For The Record Page 2A
Kaz’s Forecast Page 2B
BEST FISHING IN TEXAS
MUSTANG INSIDER Mustang Football Meri Elen Jacobs Page 1B
Capt. Dickie Colburn Page 5B
H The Home Of Seattle Seahawk Earl Thomas Jr. H
County Record Vol. 56 No. 22
The Community Newspaper of Orange, Texas
Week of Wednesday, September 17, 2014
County reaches compromise on contract David Ball
For The Record
Some janitors who work for Orange County escaped the job chopping block after a contract was reworked at the regular meeting of the commissioners court on Monday afternoon. A contract was made last week with Members Building Maintenance LLC for janitorial services in the county. The county submitted a $166,814 annual bid. Jody Crump, Precinct 4 commissioner, estimated the county would save more than $319,000 a year using the contractor with $112,000 saved in county employees’ salaries and benefits. County Judge Carl Thibodeaux, Precinct 1 Commissioner David Dubose and Precinct 2 Commissioner Owen Burton voted yes for the amendment. Crump and Pre-
cinct 3 Commissioner John Banken voted no. There are currently eight janitorial employees on the county THIBODEAUX payroll. The company would begin on October 1, 2014. This week, County Judge Carl Thibodeaux amended the contract with Members Building Maintenance to save two employees jobs with the county from being terminated after a lengthy discussion. Thibodeaux was told by County Attorney Douglas Manning he could legally amend the contract because it hasn’t been signed yet. The two janitors with the most seniority would clean the
‘Shop Orange County’ campaign draws support A Community Message
From The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Orange Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the Bridge City and Vidor Chambers of Commerce and launched a “Shop Orange County” campaign. This campaign is designed to educate our local citizens about the many advantages to keeping our local dollars with our county retailers. This multipart series will focus on the different advantages that shopping locally will bring to our community. School has started once again for another year. Our local schools are funded based upon a combination of local and state monies combined with enrollment numbers. One of the more impactful pieces to the school funding formula is the enrollment of students. Simply put, the greater the number of students attending a given school district the greater amount of funding available to the local school system. Our local schools are funded through a combination of state and local tax money at approximately $5000 per student. Each of the school districts in Orange County earn different amounts per pupil based on property values and tax effort. However, when school district enrollments increase, so do local school budgets. When you choose to shop locally, your money helps to grow local business. Growing
businesses hire additional employees to meet the needs of their customers. These new jobs allow these employees to move their families to our area. As more families move to our county, our school districts enroll more students. This new employment not only helps to meet the needs of our local businesses and their customers. The additional enrollment to our schools also serves to benefit our community. When our schools have additional resources everyone wins. Some of the benefits are improved educational programming, additional extra-curricular resources, and increased teacher pay. These benefits come without any increase to the school tax rate. Shopping locally pays many dividends to our community. Our local businesses certainly benefit. However, the impact to the education of our children cannot be overlooked. As our schools grow and thrive, there is a direct economic benefit to our area school districts. The next time you and your family are shopping or dining out, think locally first. Our local restaurants and retailers offer exceptional service and value. But, remember, your dining and shopping experience doesn’t stop there. The families you support with your patronage help to grow and sustain our local educational system. Shop Orange County and everyone benefits. What Stays Local, Grows Local!
Expo Center and offices on FM 1442. Members Building Maintenance would not be responsible for that building but for the
rest of the county’s buildings. Their new amended contract will be for $127,458 with the county.
Mark Wimberley, maintenance supervisor, said the janitorial staff told him they are willing to do more than they
St. Mary students earn awards
St. Mary Catholic School is proud to announce the 2014-2015 National Junior Society Members. Pictured from right to left: Sponsor Freda Riley; Megan Do; Nicholas Wilson; Krystal Lester; Elizabeth Doan; Shelby Smith.
have been doing in order to keep their jobs.“We will tighten our belts to be competitive,” Wimberley said. Thibodeaux said a portion of the salary for one of the workers at the Expo Center could be paid through rental fees to the Hotel Occupancy Tax fund. During deliberations, Thibodeaux asked for the court to reconsider the contract and keep six maintenance department employees. “We’ve asked the departments to work with us. We’ve gone from eight (employees) to six. There are other ways in balancing the budget,” he said. Thibodeaux added last week’s vote on the contract were based on eight employees being retained in the department. Crump cited $10,001 the department spent for extra help this year. Thibodeaux said the extra help could be done away with and HOT funds could also reduce the cost even more. Crump said these numbers were beyond the scope of his understanding. Banken asked Wimberley why he waited until the last hour to make this proposal. “Why not make this last year? You made no effort then to do this. When there was an opening, you went ahead and filled it when we asked you not COUNTY BUSINESS Page 3A
Bridge City Heritage Festival Oct. 4 David Ball
For The Record
St. Mary Catholic School is honored to share the “Good Samaritan” award winners for the week of Sept. 8-12. St. Mary staff nominates students they witness displaying acts of kindness, helping others and showing respect at school and within the community. The principal, Donna Darby announced the winners at morning announcements in front of all students and staff. The winners received a certificate and other prizes for their wonderful behavior. Winners pictured from right to left are Logan Russell, Victoria Cole, Krystal Lester.
Orange County Democrats to host honor ceremony The Orange County Democratic Party will be hosting a gala to honor outstanding county-wide Democrats for their volunteer service, present and past elected officials and a special memory tribute. The event will start with a gala and recognition from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and a social and networking from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the American Legion on Green Ave. in Orange. Gilberto Hinojosa, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party; Steve Brown, candidate for Railroad Commission, and other state candidates including Gavin Bruney, candidate for 21st District State Representative; Michael Cole, candidate for 36th Congressional District and event co-chair; local county candidates Gail Barnett, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 1; Janice Menard, candidate for Justice of the Peace, Precinct 3 and Deborah Mitchell, event County Chair. Tickets are $30 each and event sponsorships are available.
Come Visit Our Award Winning Service Department 1601 Green Ave. • 409.883-3581
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The Bridge City Historical Society will host the 2014 Bridge City Heritage Festival from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, at the Bridge City Community Center and the surrounding grounds at 105 Parkside, in Bridge City. The heritage festival will feature live music, including Three Legged Dawg and Center Stage, among other performers. There will be arts and crafts, snacks and popcorn, a silent auction, and pictures/ videos of Bridge City past streaming inside the community center. There will also be a variety of food vendors, bingo, dunkin’ booth, and a children’s arcade featuring: dime toss, duck pond, ring toss, milk bottle baseball throw, Plinko, face painting, a clown, and a caricature artist and other family activities on the surrounding grounds. This year, Terry and Ella Stuebing will be honored at the festival for their years of serBC HERITAGE Page 3A
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Automotive Repair In Our Service Dept.