Bastrop, Texas Events, News & Stories

Bastrop, Tx–At a meeting Monday Bastrop County Judge Ronnie McDonald reminded county commissioners he has scheduled a June 16 session to explore with them the feasibility and possible benefits of establishing a unitary road maintenance and improvement organization to oversee the county’s rural roadways.

Williamson County, Travis County and some other Central Texas counties have moved to a unitary road organization in recent decades, as permitted by state law. In those areas the rural public roads are essentially operated as a separate county department, typically headed by a civil engineer. In Bastrop County each county commissioner oversees an independent road maintenance operation, though cooperation on specific projects among the four is common, and they frequently lend and borrow some specialized equipment among themselves.

A county wide road department has been touted in the past as a more efficient use of tax dollars and related resources. But the issue has not been discussed seriously in Bastrop County for almost two decades. About 1990 county judge Randy Fritz backed a petition drive which forced a voter referendum on a unitary road system. The move won little backing from commissioners, however, and the measure failed at the polls.

State law also allows commissioners to institute a unified road system without seeking voter approval.

Some commissioners remain doubtful of benefit from such a change. Pct. 4 Commissioner Lee Dildy , the senior commissioner on the court, said in a Monday interview he fears added professional and support staff under a unitary road operation would consume most potential savings.

But Dildy said he remains open to persuasion. On June 16 he expects to hear a presentation by Heijl, Lee and Associates, an engineering consulting firm the county has used for many years, on the topic. The commissioner described his attitude this way: “I’m going to sit back and say ‘I’m all ears.’”