County facility reservations going online

ANAHUAC – Reservations for Chambers County public facilities will go online soon after commissioners approved a new software contract Nov. 26. 

Once the process is in place, users will make and pay for reservations online. 

Attorney Nathan Brandimarte and Treasurer Nikki Whittington worked together to hammer out a deal with CSG Forte Payments, Inc. and recommended to the court a one-year contract. 

“So we can take it on a test run,” added Brandimarte. 

Pct. 4 Commissioner Ryan Dagley supported the new arrangement, acknowledging “it will be a big change.” 

When Pct. 1 Commissioner Jimmy Gore asked how reimbursements would be handled, Brandimarte said those would still be handled in person through the Parks and Recreation Office. 

In other matters, Gore spoke on the temporary move of East County Annex departments into the Mark Huddleston Building on Highway 124. He spoke of the poor condition of the east annex and plans to build a 10,000-square-foot two-story annex, much like one being built on the west side. 

Gore thanked the county departments who assisted in getting the departments up and running. 

AgriLife District Extension Administrator Eric Zimmerman introduced Carrie Mitchell to the court. Mitchell is the new Family Community Health Extension Agent for Chambers County. 

She is a former Anahuac ISD educator who, among other duties, will work with the county’s 4-H program. 

In other matters, the court approved change order No. 6 to Texas Materials Gulf Coast for $191,441. The change order closes out the Kilgore Parkway project which finished about $600,000 under budget. 

The court voted to offer a 10-year 60% tax abatement to the Firefly project. Baytown – West Chambers Economic Development Foundation President B. J. Simon said the project is looking at Cedar Port as one of two sites in the country for its plastic recycling facility. 

He said the project is a $160 million investment and, if it locates in the county, will create 128 new jobs.