WASHINGTON CO. RECEIVES $202,672 DONATION FOR ROAD IMPROVEMENTS IN PRECINCT 4
Some Precinct 4 roads in Washington County will receive upgrades thanks to a donation from an oil and gas company operating in the county.
Washington County Commissioners today (Tuesday) accepted a $202,672 donation from Magnolia Oil & Gas Operating, LLC. The funding is planned to go toward repair and reconstruction costs for Schoenemann Road, Sandtown Road and Koether Road.
County Engineer Wesley Stolz said the company’s donation is much appreciated as the county prepares to begin next year’s road improvement projects.
Commissioner Joy Fuchs said to expect a donation soon from Apache Corporation, as the company was in contact with her recently about tax documentation.
County Judge John Durrenberger told Stolz that “the rapport that you have built with these companies is remarkable” and thanked him for his efforts in securing the contributions.
Also at today’s meeting, the court:
- Approved a preliminary plat for Childress Ranch, LP, a private residential development of 45 lots on 115.41 acres fronting FM 1155 East in Washington in Precinct 1.
- Approved a final plat for Amelia Homes, LLC for the development of Washington Heights at Chappell Hill, a residential subdivision fronting FM 1371 in Precinct 2.
- Authorized the county judge, county auditor and county treasurer to make budget amendments and budget line-item transfers, if necessary, to close Washington County’s 2022 fiscal year.
- Approved an amendment to the EMS Management & Consultants billing contract.
- Approved an amendment to bid number 2022-04 with WEX Bank for gasoline fuel and diesel, fleet-station/pump for a maximum of 180 days in 60-day increments. The extension is through March 1, 2023.
Years ago there was a study out that claimed one loaded big rig truck legal 80,000 pounds did the amount of damage to the roadway in one mile that it would take 9000 plus regular weight vehicles to do the same damage. So looks like we are getting something in the form of a donation when in fact looks like we are subsidizing the oil companies. So it sounds good but is it really a good deal? The bottom line is those trucks destroy our county roads and make them unsafe. Why don’t we build the roadway to accommodate the trucks and have the oil companies pay their actual fair share or enforce the actual load limits on the roads?