Thursday's Internet Edition, September 09, 2010.
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With the new equipment, it will drastically help Edwards County Road Department maintain their more than 400 miles of county roads. One of the main purchases will be a mobile rock crusher. This is pulled behind a tractor. The material on the sides of the roads in the windrows will be pulled in, crushed and utilized. The machine is capable of crushing up to 18 inch rocks. This material can be used at the location where the department is working rather than hauling in or buying new material.
The department had rented a crusher prior to deciding on the project and tested it on a portion of the White Mountain Road.
Since the USDA money can only be used for new equipment, the County will use theirs to purchase some good used equipment as a dozer and a trailer to haul the equipment .
Being that the check was for a cost-share grant, Edwards County will have to pay $364,500 to cover the total cost of the project, but the commissioners have already put aside $450,000 for this project. They also sold some used surplus equipment and raised some $30,000 to add to the project.
Commissioner Grooms said, “This will be a slow process, but at least we have a start.”
This is possibly the largest grant that Edwards County has ever received.
Others in attendance were 23rd District of Texas Field Representative Jaime Solis, Commissioner Mike Grooms, County Judge Nick Gallegos, and a crowd of about 7 spectators.