By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The National Association of Counties is asking member counties to submit letter of support urging Congress to pass a long-term transportation funding bill to help fix the nation’s roads and bridges.

Public Works Director Mike Graf provided an update Monday to the Ellis County Commission on roads in the county.

According to NACo, Ellis County has 38 total bridges that are 75 years or older, 14 of them are masonry arch bridges built between 1935 and 1940. NACo also reported the county has 51 bridges with load restrictions, 24 have ratings below 50 and six are fracture critical, meaning they don’t have redundant supporting elements.

Ellis County maintains 1,341 miles of roads throughout the county and only 148 are paved.

NACo also reported funding for bridges and federal highway across the nation has decreased by 30 percent.

Also at Monday night’s meeting Graf provided updates on the Old U.S. 40 projects. From 280th to Victoria, 280th to Toulon Avenue is finished and open to the public. According to Graf, the milling, base layer of asphalt, fabric mat placement, and cover layer of asphalt is expected to be completed soon.

From Yocemento to Ellis, the final designs should be done by the fall and is estimated to cost between $2.4 million and 2.8 million.

Graf and County Administrator Greg Sund plan to draw up a letter of support for increased transportation funding for the commission to approve at a later time.

Commissioners also tabled an agreement with Jeff Younger of Secure Energy Consulting Inc. until a special meeting later this month to clarify a question on the proposed contract.

Younger served as the natural gas consultant for the county, allowing them to get a discounted price when purchasing the gas. Younger left his previous company and has requested the commission signed a new consultant agreement with Younger at his new company.