WOODVILLE – Tyler County Judge Milton Powers had some promising news that he saved for the end of Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Tyler County Commissioners Court.
Powers said that he’d met with Martin Gonzalez, who is the district engineer for the Beaumont District of the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the news was positive concerning the long-debated Tyler County Warren to Colmesneil relief route project, which was greenlit by the agency last year.
Powers said TxDOT had accepted an alternate route proposal that was sanctioned by the Commissioners’ Court, and created by volunteers Steve Pittman and Greg Adams, with input from the taxpayers, but at no cost to the taxpayers.
TxDOT is “92 to 94% sure to follow our Tyler County proposal,” Powers said.
The route will follow the old railroad right-of-way, but at minimal disruption to any homes, churches or businesses.
In August, TxDOT had identified two possible routes through the county for the route, a western route, which would impact 15 homes, more than 1,600 acres of land and would require 400 feet of right-of-way, if adopted. An eastern route, which utilized the railroad path, would have impacted 46 homes, five businesses, 1,200+ acres of land and require 400 feet of right-of-way.
Those routes were touted and retooled from four original possibilities, put forth by TxDOT last October.
The route which Adams and Pittman mapped out and was approved by the county as the Tyler County Commissioners’ Proposal for I 69, would impact 12 homes (two in Warren, six in Hillister and four in Woodville); no businesses; 350 to 360+ acres of land and would only require 240 feet of right-of-way.
In a workshop, held in August by the Commissioners’ Court, information indicated that the homes impacted were either movable structures or dilapidated.
Powers said he wanted to thank all of the communities for stepping up to show concern and support the alternate route.
Ford resigns from constable post
During Tuesday’s meeting, the commissioners voted to accept the resignation of Pct. 1 Constable Ronnie Ford. Pct. 1 Commissioner Joe Blacksher read a letter Ford wrote, which cited complications from a shoulder surgery as the reason for his early retirement from the position.
Ford, in his letter, recommended the appointment of Tim Scroggins. Scroggins is running unopposed for the office, and in a separate agenda item, he was appointed to serve in that capacity, effective on Thursday, Oct. 31, which is also the date Ford’s resignation is effective.
Blacksher and Powers both thanked Ford for his service to the county.
