ORANGE — The 2012/2013 fiscal budget is the topic of Orange County Commissioners Court during the regular meeting 2 p.m. Monday.
The court was present with the annual financial report for the fiscal year which ended September 30, 2011.
Chris Pruitt of Pattillo, Brown and Hill said the Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balance - Budget and Actual showed conservative budgeting on the county’s part.
Vickie Edgarly, District Clerk, request approval to fill a vacant clerk II position in her department.
The position has been vacant since the beginning of the year due to a Deputy Chief retiring. The retirement lead to internal promotions, and cross training.
Edgarly said she likes to give a six month probationary period for training purposes.
“I have not asked for a new position for my department in 17 years,” Edgarly said. “I am only asking that an empty position be filled.”
Edgarly stated that duties have increased for everyone in the department and would like to continue with the number of people she has had for previous years.
“It is very stressful and a hardship that cannot continue,” Edgarly said. “It is not fair to expect it for the duration of employment.”
Jody Crump, pct. 4 commissioner made a motion to deny the request.
“It is a numbers game right now with the budget,” Crump said.
Crump also said the department had functioned well this long without the position filled.
“How well we have done based on what,” Edgarly asked. “My administrative work is not getting done because I have to work the counter.”
Crump said his office had not received any calls of complaint.
Edgarly said it was because they call her at home and at the office to complain.
“The position is already budgeted for,” Edgarly said. “I was saving the county money by holding off before requesting to hire. This little bit will not solve the county’s problems.”
John Dubose, pct. 3 commissioner, suggested the court pass on the action during the present meeting and have it on the agenda for the first meeting in September.
“Not filling the position could be a way to avoid layoffs later,” Crump said.
Patrick Beebe, mosquito control director, gave a report on the June/July mosquito activity in the area.
Last week, test results were positive for mosquitos with the West Nile virus in Orange County.
Beebe said his department already increased treatments in the immediate and surrounding areas where the mosquitos were found.
“This is all standard procedure when test come back positive,” Beebe said. “It does take seven days to get the results of the tests.”
The mosquitos are shipped to Austin for testing.
“A field test would come in handy,” County Judge Carl Thibodeaux said. “Then you could get them [mosquitos] while they are still in there.”
