By Larry Holt

The Orange Leader

 

PINEHURST — City Secretary Debbie Cormier provided a fiscal health report to the City Council during the regular meeting held Tuesday evening.

“Based on current financials the city has approximately fifty thousand dollars in its reserve fund,” Cormier said. “A very good place to be.”

In response to a councilman’s question, City Administrator Robbie Hood assured members although FEMA reimbursements to the city haven’t been realized yet, the process for receiving funds, “…is moving forward but no money yet. It is unknown at this time when we will see funds.”

City Attorney Tommy Gunn read a proclamation declaring the month of April 2018 at National Child Abuse Prevention Month. The proclamation goal is to raise awareness among the community of the need for volunteer advocates to act as a voice for at risk children.

CASA Board President Kevin Norton accepted the proclamation from Mayor Pete Runnels and then addressed the council and attendees.

“Our organization is the only voice an abused child has. We are their advocate in court and we need volunteer advocates,” Norton said.

In other business, the council approved the sale or lease of city property at 2908 Gull Street to Chester Moore for his Kingdom Zoo. Moore’s original location was affected by Hurricane Harvey and Kingdom Zoo has been in temporary quarters since being displaced.

Hood made three announcements for the benefit of Pinehurst residents. Saturday April 14 is the citywide spring clean up day from 8 a.m. to 12 Noon. City staff with dumpsters will be standing by at the old Sears parking lot on MacArthur to assist residents with household waste items: hazardous materials such as paint, tires, and chemicals are not allowed.

City of Pinehurst is partnering with Sabine Federal Credit Union on April 21 for a “Shred It And Forget It” annual event to be held in the credit union parking lot from 9 a.m. until 12 Noon.

Southeast Texas Regional Planning Commission with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is hosting a free area-wide hazardous waste and scrap tire collection event on May 5 from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Ford Park Pavilion parking lot located at 5115 Interstate 10 South in Beaumont.

Hood clarified, “No hazardous waste on April 14. All those should go on May 5 to the Ford Park event.”

Hazardous waste can include car or truck tires. The first eight are free and one dollar for each tire after eight. Paint, batteries, chemicals and the like are also considered hazardous waste and appropriate for the May 5 event, not the April 14 City of Pinehurst spring clean up.

For a complete list of acceptable materials contact Bob Dickinson at 409-899-8444 extension 7520.