Precinct 3 seeks $4.9 million for road maintenance; commissioners flag culverts, equipment and barn repairs

Commissioner Gary presented a line‑item review of Precinct 3’s road budget and maintenance plan at the June 26 Hunt County Commissioners Court, asking for a $4.9 million precinct road program and describing a modest $436,000 year‑over‑year increase driven mostly by material and equipment costs.

Why it matters: County roads and maintenance are recurring operating costs that affect public safety, drainage and long‑term asset preservation. The precinct presentation highlighted near‑term repairs (culverts and two iron gate bridges), equipment shortfalls for mowing and load‑handling, and a multi‑year, phased plan to improve the maintenance barn so equipment can be stored and serviced indoors.

Key points from the presentation: - Budget overview: Commissioner Gary described a $4,900,000 precinct road program with an approximately $436,000 (about 8%) increase over prior spending; cost drivers cited were increased material costs, more intensive repairs to aging culverts and two iron‑gate bridges, and equipment maintenance and replacement. - Culverts and bridges: The precinct has several washed‑out culverts needing replacement (20‑foot culverts were cited as examples) and two iron gate bridges requiring eventual replacement; some repairs will be nonnegotiable for safety and regulatory inspections. - Equipment and mowing: The precinct reported mower and tractor shortfalls (noting only one shredder available in some cases and a loader with brake/safety concerns). Commissioner Gary said auction proceeds could cover at least one truck purchase if timing allows. - Barn and facility work: Gary proposed a phased, roughly three‑year plan to refurbish and re‑skin the maintenance barn, add a lean‑to to increase undercover storage, and improve electrical/door access so county equipment is protected and preserved. - Operational efficiencies: The precinct suggested exploring shared services (a county mowing crew, ditching crew expansions), benchmarking against other counties to identify best practices, expanding in‑house material mixing (pug mill) to lower per‑ton costs, and re‑examining subdivision standards and new‑road responsibilities to limit county exposure to long‑term maintenance costs. - Right‑of‑way constraints: Commissioners discussed narrow, tree‑lined roads and limited right‑of‑way that make widening or ditch work difficult; the court noted tradeoffs between preserving tree lines and removing roadside hazards for safety and insurance liability reasons.

Next steps: The court agreed to schedule a workshop to discuss ditching/mowing crew structure, subdivision standards, and potential cost‑saving shared services. Britney (staff) will coordinate scheduling; commissioners suggested meeting soon (judge and commissioners discussed availability around the July 4 week). Commissioner Gary said he will refine his five‑year plan and prioritize miles needing preservation vs. replacement.

Ending: No precinct budget was adopted on June 26. The court directed follow‑up workshops to refine scope, confirm auction proceeds usage for equipment purchases, and identify efficiencies that could alter next year’s request.