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Ellis County discusses right-of-way inventory, GIS upgrades and a project manager position
Summary
County staff presented maps showing narrow or unbuilt right-of-way and sought direction to create a project manager role, integrate public works mapping with county GIS, and roll out GPS and work-order tracking over time.
Ellis County public works staff on June 17 presented maps identifying narrow right-of-way segments, unbuilt roadways, and locations the county currently maintains though right-of-way or ownership is unclear. Commissioners discussed a multi-step program to inventory roads, better integrate public works data with the county GIS system, and create a project manager position to coordinate the work.
Public works staff said the maps flag multiple categories: narrow right-of-way with minimal or no ditching, unbuilt right-of-way where the county nevertheless performs maintenance, and locations where the existing roadway functions more like a private driveway. Commissioners emphasized prioritizing heavily used Farm-to-Market (FAS) routes and major thoroughfares rather than expending limited crew time on seasonally used, low-traffic roads.
Brandon McKay and Bridal McHale (public works) said their current mapping workflow relies on an older AutoCAD drawing that is not integrated with the county's ArcGIS system; Mike Leiker, the county IT director, said integration is possible but requires additional Esri licensing, coordination on standards, and training. Commissioners requested a price and licensing estimate for additional ArcGIS seats during the budget process.
County administrators recommended creating a project manager position (reclassifying a planned retirement slot) to run the inventory and manage GIS/work-order integration. Staff said the position's job description will be finalized and placed on the July 1 agenda; hiring and system purchases would follow later in the year, with gradual rollout of GPS-enabled data collection, work-order tracking, and culvert/sign inventories.
Officials emphasized a phased approach to avoid overwhelming staff: start with prioritized quadrants or high-usage corridors, equip crews with handheld GPS units for point collection, and expand layers in ArcGIS to support daily work orders and future disaster documentation. Commissioners expressed general support for the phased plan and asked staff to bring licensing and budget numbers forward during the July budget discussions.
No formal vote was taken on immediate roadway changes; commissioners asked staff to return with a project manager job description and cost estimates for GIS licensing and field GPS units.
