10-year Collin County rural paving program to continue at current pace

by Bill Baumbach of The Collin County Observer

A couple of weeks ago, County Judge Keith Self, with support from Commissioner Matt Shaheen, proposed that the county cap its popular rural gravel road paving program at 50 miles.

Self and Shaheen argued that stopping the paving would save asphalt inventories for next year, which they believe will be a much leaner budget year.

It was a goofy idea.

Monday, the court considered the idea of capping the paving program. Or to put it more accurately, on Monday, the court did everything it could to NOT consider capping the popular paving program.

The 10 Year Asphalt Program is in its fifth year. When the program started, the county contained about 480 miles of dirt and gravel roads. So far, over 262 miles of old dirt and gravel roads have been widened and replaced with safer, cleaner, and more durable asphalt paving.

After a brief, (and he was urged by Self to remain "brief") presentation by Public Works Director Jon Kleinheksel on the results so far of the 10 year paving program, and the savings realized by the reduced maintenance needed for paved rather than gravel roads, Commissioner Ward spoke of the health and safety issues that result from old gravel roadways.

Judge Self was anxious to not have a debate, and he never called for a motion or a vote to cap the program. Instead, he moved on to the next agenda item as quickly as he could.

Since the 2010 budget maintains funding for the current rate of paving and inventories, the 10-year rural road paving program remains as it was before the County Judge's theatrics. This year, the Public Works Department is on track to asphalt 70 miles of rural, gravel roads.

Self's plan was goofy, and it never stood a chance of gaining a majority vote of the court.