By Ginger Broomes

The Orange Leader

 

Employees with the Houston architectural firm HDR updated the Commissioners Court at Tuesday’s meeting on the progress of the Orange County Courthouse renovations.

Out of the previously approved master renovation plan, the first step was to be the removal and restoration of the marble façade around the base of the courthouse. The estimated cost for the marble portion of the entire courthouse renovation is estimated to be $353,035.

HDR announced that the county had been accepted for a grant from the Texas Historical Commission, which would cover 50-percent of the marble renovation project. The upfront cost would be covered by the county, with a reimbursement of about $176,526 from the Texas Historical Commission. This was a grant discussed back in a January session of Commissioners Court and has now been approved. Commissioner Burton advised that future public workshops would be held outlining the continued progress of the entire renovation process.

In other court business: Processing of payroll and finalizing of the 2019 Holiday schedule for county employees, along with routine bill paying business of the county.