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Engineering Development Services reports roadway, drainage and FEMA progress
Summary
Engineering Development Services briefed commissioners on winter construction, drainage projects, paving readiness, culvert installations, new mapping tools, and FEMA applications; the department said several emergency and large projects advanced over the winter months.
Engineering Development Services (EDS) presented its quarterly report to the Washington County Commissioners Court on March 4, detailing road and drainage work completed or underway, capital purchases and grant/FEMA application progress.
EDS reported ongoing work on several winter projects and said crews completed emergency culvert and bridge transitions at Lomax/Harmon Road (box culverts installed and roadway reopened) and made substantive progress on the Willow Springs drainage project, which engineers described as having a steep, 25-foot drop well outside the travel lane that posed a safety risk until corrected.
Why it matters: the projects described affect local road safety, maintenance schedules and county eligibility for FEMA reimbursement and other grants.
Key highlights
- Permitting and workload: EDS reported 43 on-site sewage facility (OSSF/septic) permits to date for 2025 and noted the spring season typically sees an uptick in activity.
- Road materials and paving: The county has received 14,511 tons of base material for 2025 and has about 4 miles of roadway staged and ready for paving when consistent warmer weather arrives.
- Driveway/culverts: EDS installed 33 driveway culverts to date and reported collecting $20,200 in driveway fees to offset material costs.
- Major drainage and bridge work: The Willow Springs project addressed significant erosion and a narrow right-of-way; the Lomax/Harmon bridge project was advanced as an emergency repair with box culverts installed and inlet-side transition work remaining.
- Fleet and equipment: The county ordered 12 fleet vehicles to reduce rental costs; four units are already in place. EDS also acquired a 20-foot flatbed trailer to improve crew mobility.
- Vegetation and invasive-species control: EDS retrofitted an herbicide rig and plans targeted applications this spring for high-growth Johnson grass and a spot-application program to address invasive “Georgia cane,” which staff said will likely be a multi-year effort dependent on budget availability.
- FEMA and grants: The county has five FEMA applications in process; two were approved at the time of the report, returning approximately $5,200 and $34,000, and additional applications were pending. The MITMOD project was reported as approved and pending contract documents.
- New mapping and public data: EDS launched an updated county mapping portal that includes wells, school districts, voting and fire boundaries and other layers intended to assist residents, developers and planners.
Commissioner and staff notes
Staff said the Willow Springs work was prioritized after undermining and erosion created a hazard that could lead to a 25-foot drop off the roadway. Commissioners and staff noted the MITMOD project would benefit the eastern side of the county and that several right-of-way and design steps remain before construction.
Ending
No formal action was required; the presentation provided status updates and set expectations for upcoming construction and mapping tools. Staff said more detail will be provided in the next quarterly report.
