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Van Zandt County commissioners discuss contracting road engineer, debris removal costs and shared equipment
Summary
In a workshop discussion, commissioners considered hiring a contract road engineer, buying a grapple/boom debris truck, sharing diagnostic equipment for heavy machinery, and noted debris pickup rose from an estimate of 12,000 to 25,000 cubic yards with FEMA reimbursement expected.
The Van Zandt County Commissioners Court held an extended workshop on collaboration between precinct road and bridge departments, discussing whether to hire a contract road engineer, acquisition of specialized debris equipment, shared diagnostic tools for heavy equipment, and lessons from recent storm debris removal.
A court member proposed contracting a professional road engineer to advise precincts on design, drainage and subgrade stabilization. He said he had contacted retired TxDOT engineer Mark McClanahan to explore options and asked whether commissioners wanted staff to pursue potential contracts and costs. "Is that something I should pursue? Are you interested in pursuing?" the speaker asked.
Commissioners discussed cost limits and local capacity. One commissioner said prior road studies exist and emphasized funding constraints. The discussion included specific cost estimates raised during the meeting: lime prices quoted at roughly $260–$340 per ton, estimated road stabilization costs of about $50,000–$70,000 per mile depending on soil and base work, and recycled-asphalt-shingle surface material priced at approximately $27,000 per mile. The court acknowledged that stabilizing the base is critical and that a consultant could provide a consistent technical rationale for road priorities and improve public transparency.
The court also reviewed results from the county—s debris-removal contract. Staff said the county initially estimated 12,000 cubic yards to remove after recent storms but debris-hauling contractors had collected about 25,000 cubic yards so far. Officials said disaster work will be reimbursed with roughly 75% FEMA and 25% by TDEM (as recorded in the meeting text). Commissioners discussed whether the county should acquire a grapple/boom debris truck similar to those used by contractors to improve efficiency for future storms; they asked staff to research used options and maintenance-sharing arrangements among precincts.
Another workshop topic was purchasing a heavy-equipment diagnostic tool, estimated at $12,000–$15,000, that precinct mechanics could use to diagnose modern engine and electronic problems and reduce time and expense for outside repair vendors. One commissioner said he planned to buy a unit for use in his precinct and was open to sharing it across precincts.
Commissioners did not commit county funds during the workshop but directed staff to research costs and options and to bring proposals and budget recommendations to the upcoming budget process.
