Citizens want more action against I-69

January 30, 2008

BY ROSEMARY SMITH, Examiner editor

“You don't give TXDOT an alternative. You do represent us and you'll have to stand up against them!” Charles Wynn of Iola urged Grimes County commissioners during a regularly scheduled meeting held on Monday.

Wynn and Ruben Grassl, who lives near Shiro, demanded that commissioners take a stronger stance against TXDOT's proposed plan to cut a path through Grimes County for the creation of TTC/I-69.

“My concern is apathy and the unconcerned attitude from the county in their involvement in stopping I-69 from coming to Grimes County,” Grassl told Commissioners, as both men said they were disappointed in the lack of county representation at a town hall meeting held in Hempstead last week.

Mr. Wynn added that a Brazos Valley Council of Government representative said that Grimes County is supportive of the proposed plan.

County Judge Betty Shiflett responded by saying that someone else had contacted her with that same concern and she is waiting for a copy of the recorded meeting before she formally responds to TXDOT. Shiflett assured citizens that the county is against the proposed route as copies of a December 10, 2007 resolution signed by the Commissioners was made available at the meeting.

According to the resolution, “Grimes County opposes the presently proposed route of the I-69 corridor, which was originally considered for use as a 1200' wide Trans-Texas corridor. This amount of right if way is also opposed by Grimes County, as such corridor would have a significant and far reaching negative impact on the rural character of Grimes County and would result in the loss of thousands of acres of land by rural landowners. However, if this transportation corridor is to be located in Grimes County, the county would prefer an alignment of the corridor with a substantially smaller ROW that maximizes the use of existing corridors, namely State Hwy 6 and State Hwy 30 and their supporting structures.”

Following the meeting, Michael Parks of BVCOG denied the allegation that Grimes County was represented as being for the TXDOT proposal.

Pct. 1 Commissioner, John Bertling said he would like a workshop meeting planned in order to discuss Fair Labor Standards Act guidelines concerning overtime pay for salaried employees. According to Bertling, he is concerned that the county will be fined severely if it is audited by the Labor Board.

After a presentation by Kelly Kolodzey from County TAC, Commissioners unanimously agreed to participate in a 10-week pilot program for Health Awareness.

Commissioners tabled a decision to allow the Road and Bridge Department to go out for bids on RAP material, as County Engineer Bobby Lys relayed that he specifically needed bids on recycling the RAP material already purchased by the county. Commissioners approved a preliminary and final plat for Durango Ranch Subdivision, with variance for length of cul-de-sac on Durango Ranch Road. They also approved a preliminary plat for the High Plains Subdivision. Upon the recommendation of Fire Association President Joan Teer, Commissioners did not reinstate the Burn Ban.

The county engineer advised Commissioners, “With the Town of Iola having their election for mayor and aldermen, it may be the appropriate time to revisit all of the Interlocal agreements with Iola, Anderson and Bedias. We will continue to work under the current agreements with significant being performed in both Bedias and Anderson as we move into the warmer months.”

While giving a road and bridge report, Lys said county crews are continuing to blade as many county roads as possible, though recent rainfall has slowed their progress. Work will begin on CR 162 West from FM 244 to CR 103 and then CR 103 to the Brazos County line. The department recently closed the CR 420 bridge, upon a recommendation by TXDOT. “The biannual inspection has begun with CR 420 bridge being one of the first bridges inspected,” said Lys.