The first of many steps was taken Thursday morning as two Orange County buildings located at 106 S. Border and 902 Division were torn down.
Once the buildings are torn down, they disposed of the mound of debris in large dumpsters.
The former structures which were heavily damaged by Hurricane Ike housed adult probation, law library, cluster court, agricultural extension, road and bridge and records preservation offices.
“This is just the first domino to fall,” Wimberly said.
County officials hope to break ground soon for the new adult probation building. Also located in the building will be the law library and the cluster court. But, the project could take up to 18 months to complete, according to Mark Wimberly, Orange County maintenance director.
The 11,000 square foot 1-story building will have to be raised to a higher elevation of more than four feet than the previous structure. Plans are to have steps leading up to the front door similar to those at the courthouse.
Another county building in the works is for the Precinct 3 Justice of the Peace office. The new building will be at the Orange County Airport. The former building was located on FM 1442 was damaged during the storm as well. Wimberly hopes to go out for bids soon on the new structure.
The JP office is currently in a temporary building at the airport.
“Everyone has a projected home,” Wimberley said.
Other county offices are scattered through out the area. The adult probation and road and bridge offices are in a temporary location at a county building on FM 1442.
County officials are planning to house the records preservation office at a different permanent site as well. They are in the process of remodeling the former Orange County Transportation Building near the airport. The transportation office opened in October at a new site on FM 1442.
The Agricultural Extension office is located on Highway 62 in Mauriceville and shares office space with Precinct 2 Commissioner Owen Burton and the substation of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. Both the road and bridge department and the agricultural office will eventually be located at the county community center.
Orange County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said during a recent commissioner’s court meeting, he is still working on obtaining the funding for the new county building to be built on FM 1442.
Debby Schamber is a reporter for the Orange Leader. She can be reached at 409-883-3571 ext. 2609 or at dschamber@orangeleader.com.
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Debby Schamber
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