Hutchinson County staff report road repairs after wildfire and steady airport fuel sales

County Road and Bridge and airport staff gave updates to the Hutchinson County Commissioners Court about ongoing maintenance, post-fire cleanup and airport operations.

Duane, a Road and Bridge employee, told commissioners the department focused this month on maintenance limited by cold weather and on cleanup after a recent wildfire. "We've been pretty busy at Road And Bridge. The weather's kinda limited dirt work," Duane said, adding crews cleaned ditches and culverts and repurposed dirt from cleared areas to rebuild several dirt roads.

The county’s airport representative, Baltazar, reported routine operations and coordination with outside partners. "We've sold a little over 6,000 gallons of fuel, jet fuel, a little over 4,000 of our gas," Baltazar said, and said staff are discussing a lighting project with an Atlanta firm and logistics support with the Texas Forest Service. He said Texas Forest Service personnel will use local fuel and that private partners such as Phillips 66 would help cover costs for some aviation support.

County staff described specific road tasks: ditch cleaning and culvert work on County Road 9 and other routes, and plans to plate and build up mileage on several county roads. Duane said crews cleaned ditches after pushing fire breaks and that additional projects remain on the schedule but are weather-dependent.

Commissioners did not take formal action on these reports during the meeting; the updates were informational.

The court will continue to monitor road conditions as weather and fire-recovery work progress and airport staff said they will continue coordination with the Texas Forest Service and private fuel partners.