County Moves Ahead With Financing for Road & Bridge Equipment, Land
By Catherine Grace Mason’s County Commissioners voted on December 9 to finance $3,500,000 through certificates of obligation to pay for Road and Bridge Department equipment, and possibly land or a building to house county agencies.
The majority of the money, $2,500,000, will go to Road and Bridge, to replace very old equipment which continues to break down. “We are in a bind with Road and Bridge equipment,” said County Judge Sheree Hardin. Continued costly repairs and limited space at the Historical Building are a prime reason the county is seeking a different space to house the Senior Nutrition Program and the Agrilife Extension service.
With the help of County Financial Advisor Victor Quiroga of Specialized Public Finance, commissioners chose a financing plan which will pay off the $2.5 million in ten years, and the remaining $1 million in 15 years, keeping the Interest and Sinking (I&S) tax rate at five cents. “My job is to get you the lowest interest rate possible,” Quiroga told the Court. He stressed that local investors will get the first option to participate in financing the certificates.
A notice of intention to issue the County’s certificates of obligation was approved by Commissioners to be published in the Mason County News Dec. 11 and 18, which is required by the Texas Government Code. The commitment date to lock in an interest rate will be February 10, Quiroga said. March 5, 2025, will be the date, when funds become available to the County, he said.
In other business, the Court approved departmental reports. County Librarian Cristi Slocum received approval from the Court to purchase a Demco “Cover One” book repair machine for the library. The newer books, which are glued, are losing their bindings more quickly, causing pages to fall out, Slocum said. The machine re-glues the bindings and “will help a lot,” Slocum said. The cost is $1,799 plus shipping.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Chris Magee received approval for his department to install a cattle guard on Schep Creek Road by request of landowner Glen Martin. The cost to Mr. Martin for the cattle guard, county materials and labor will be $1418.84, plus gravel costs.
Nacho’s Cafe was awarded the 2025 contract as the food provider for the county’s Senior Nutrition Program, at a cost of $10 per meal. The county received bids from three businesses for the contract.
The Court voted to allow the county to donate surplus property from the Sheriff’s and County Clerk’s offices’ recent move to civic or charitable organizations.
Commissioner Fred Estes reported that the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) is doing a study on the Highway 377 Corridor, from Del Rio to the Oklahoma border. The county will complete a TXDOT- sponsored survey, which is due by January 9. Truck traffic could increase significantly in Mason, which is in the central section of the corridor, depending on the decisions that are made.
The Court accepted donations of $300 to Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and $59.10 to the M. Beven Eckert Library.
