County to replace CR 385 bridge with TxDOT assistance

Gonzales County will work with the Yoakum district office of the Texas Department of Transportation to replace a bridge on County Road 385 over Clear Fork Creek in Precinct 2 after approving a resolution and waiver Monday, Aug. 26.

TxDOT administers the federal off-system bridge program, which provides funding to replace or rehabilitate structurally deficient and functionally obsolete bridges located on public roads and streets off the designated state highway system, including county roads.

The County Road 385 bridge over Clear Fork Creek was just replaced in 2011, but “continues to wash out on approaches,” Precinct 2 Commissioner Donnie Brzozowski said. A December 2023 inspection of the County Road 385 bridge yielded a substructure condition rating of 2 our of 10, down from a 6 rating just two years prior.

“The state wants to build a new bridge there and take that old bridge completely out, and because it's unsafe,” he added.

The federal government pays for 80 percent of the bridge replacement cost, while the state and county each pay 10 percent. TxDOT will allow the county “to perform, or cause to be performed, an equivalent dollar amount of structural improvement work on other deficient bridges or deficient mainlane cross-drainage structures within its jurisdiction.”

To make up the county’s proposed cost share of $75,342.93, Gonzales County will replace pipe culverts on County Roads 354, 381, 383, 402, 422S and 444.

In other action Monday, commissioners also approved a memorandum of understanding between the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office and Smiley Marshal’s Office which will allow the county to lease or loan equipment to the smaller department.

Sheriff Keith Schmidt explained the Smiley Marshal’s Office had wrecked its sole vehicle, forcing Marshal Jason Torres to use his personal vehicle for patrol. GCSO is willing to lease or loan a surplus 2019 Ford Explorer to Smiley until they can purchase a replacement vehicle for their wrecked unit.

“We were thinking about letting them borrow one for a little bit so they can get something else or we could just give them the car, whichever way you think is best,” Schmidt said.

Auditor Becky Weston expressed concern about the liability the county could have if they are simply loaning the vehicle as well as the ability of Smiley to get an insurance rider to cover a vehicle being loaned from GCSO.

Attorney Eddie Escobar, who will be the newly elected county attorney in January, indicated to commissioners that the city’s coverage through TML would be sufficient. Commissioners discussed leasing the vehicle to Smiley for a nominal $1 per year until Smiley can get a new vehicle of its own.

Commissioners also approved applications by GCSO and Precinct 4 Constable John Moreno’s office for grants from the National Rifle Association (NRA) to purchase gun range equipment (GCSO) and duty weapons and rifles (Precinct 4 Constable).

The court also voted to issue an addendum to add an electrical quick connect item to the bid package for the Gonzales County Radio Communications System Improvements. This will be for a quick connect that would be used as a backup in the event that standard power and initial generators fail. The quick connect would allow the tower to run on a portable backup generator in an emergency.