With the lack of rain, Ellis County crews have had to haul water all over the county to try to maintain the roads. One option the county is beginning to explore is to dig a few Dakota wells in various locations to provide supply and cut down on hauling distances.

Public Works Director Mike Graf says he has discussed the possibility with the state and the permitting requirements.

The county wants to test the water to see if its chemical makeup would be conducive to treating roads. The cost of a well and holding tank could be around $20,000.