Precinct foreman proposes allowing polyethylene culverts, new permit and inspection process; court moves item to old business

David, a road department foreman, asked Commissioners Court to permit polyethylene culverts as an option in addition to galvanized steel and to strengthen the county's culvert permitting and inspection process.

David told the court that polyethylene culverts have a life expectancy of 50 to 100 years compared with 20 to 40 years for steel and that 15‑ and 18‑inch polyethylene pipe is about "$200 a little over $200 cheaper" per unit than comparable steel. He said polyethylene pipe is lighter, sometimes movable by hand, does not require banding when joined, has a double‑wall design with a smooth inner wall and ribbed outer wall that resists clogging, and that polyethylene culverts are DOT‑approved when installed correctly.

David proposed a procedural change requiring applicants to receive written installation specifications when they apply for a culvert permit, require the precinct authority to size the culvert, and require a post‑installation inspection. If an installation fails inspection, an owner would have 30 days to correct the problem or the county would remove and store the culvert at the owner’s expense.

He also suggested requiring polyethylene culverts under concrete driveways because steel culverts under concrete tend to rot and are difficult and expensive to replace. David advised a minimum cover of 6 inches over the culvert and installation to be below the ditch line and parallel to ditch flow.

Commissioners generally agreed the material and procedural changes deserved further study. One commissioner said a recent subdivision experience supported polyethylene culverts for cost and longevity; others discussed whether the county should install culverts directly to ensure correct installation, and noted tradeoffs for road crews. The court moved the proposal to old business for further development.