JOHNSON CITY — A motion by Pct. 4 commissioner Paul Granberg to advertise for sealed bids to build a bridge to replace a low water crossing on Middle Creek Road died for a lack of a second during regular session of the Blanco County Commissioners Court on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at the courthouse.
“The property and right-of-way have been donated,” Granberg said. “The engineering study has been completed. The next phase is that we should find out how much the project will cost and the only way we can do that is to submit it out for bids.”
However, County Judge Brett Bray, an attorney, expressed concerns that Granberg planned to advertise for sealed bids without first conducting an environmental impact study.
“When I was here [as a citizen observer in the courtroom before his election] and the court authorized the engineering study, there was a discussion about an environmental study,” Bray said. “What if I am a contractor and I have offered a bid, not knowing what I might have to do to mitigate environmental concerns?”
Landowners on either side of the low water crossing are advocating for the bridge; however, some area residents are against its construction and have threatened a lawsuit, and would use an environmental impact study to thwart the project.
But Granberg said he thought it was premature to conduct an environmental study.
“It seems to me that there is no need to do an environmental study at this point,” Granberg said. “The information I feel I need is the cost of the construction project so I can find out if the funding I have available is adequate. If the funding is not adequate, I guess my only option is to wait until the next budget year.”
Pct. 4 commissioner Christ Liesmann said he was concerned that if a bid was approved and then an environmental study either took too long or raised significant concerns, the contractor who won the bid would not be legally accountable for it after 30 days, according to state law.
“In this situation, there is no state money, no federal money involved,” Granberg said. “So, people who are knowledgeable about this said they don’t feel it is necessary to spend the money on an environmental study. I understand your concern. There is an opposition group that has said it will use an environmental study to stop the project.”
“When you say they are going to use the environmental study to stop the project, that kind of sounds like a lawsuit to me,” Bray countered.
“I assume that is their strategy,” Granberg responded, noting an environmental study would cost approximately $5,500.
“Don’t you think spending $5,500 on an environmental study would be cheaper than a lawsuit?” Pct. 2 commissioner James Sultemeier questioned.
“If you proceed with the bridge without the environmental study and then end up in a lawsuit, why not just do the environmental study first?” Liesmann asked.
Bray pointed out that if a lawsuit is filed, it would be against the county, not just Precinct 4.
“It’s your precinct and it is your money,” Bray said. “But when you bring in the element of a potential lawsuit, it brings another aspect to this situation.”
After the motion failed, Granberg said he would place the environmental study on the next agenda for the court to decide.
In other business, the county authorized Bray to sign agreements with both Blanco and Johnson City independent school districts to use its handicap voting machine in their upcoming May school board elections.
The court also authorized Bray to declare a parcel of land at 200 N. Ave. G as surplus property so it can determine the maximum price it might fetch if put up for sale. The court also gave Bray authority to hire an appraiser to give a value on the entire property, part of which houses a local food bank.
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