Harrison County road crews have not let the weather or malfunctioning equipment slow them down.

The crews are still on track with 69 percent of the 2010 Road Construction Program completed.

"We're 69 percent complete (and) on target to finish on time," Harrison County Judge Richard Anderson said. He noted late June and July was exceptionally dry this year but that rain earlier in the month had slowed down some of the progress.

"But, we're on target," he said. "It's a very aggressive goal - 40 miles a year."

In his bi-weekly report, Harrison County Engineer John Paul Jones noted that as of last Friday, crews had completed and rehabbed 25.574 miles, with 1.6 miles of progress for a total of 27.174 miles of the program completed.

"We've worked 45 days" and have been rained out for 16 days, he said.

Jones also informed commissioners that one of the county's road reclaimers, used to pulverize existing pavement to a predetermined depth prior to the start of construction, had been down for nine days before it made it to the shop last Thursday for repairs.

"I have no idea of the total down time; it's a day-to-day basis," he said.

Nevertheless, he said crews are in pretty good shape and plan to work on Lotta Road in Precinct 2 next and then move to Precinct 3 to work on Athens Church Road.

"We're on Fason right now... and then we'll go to Gainseville next," Jones said. "If we had that other reclaimer, we'd really be rolling. I hope it's not a big problem, but it's a day-to-day basis on that.

"When that reclaimer gets out of the shop, my plans are to go to Blocker Road and hopefully we can get Five Notch," he said, responding to Commissioner Emma Bennett's inquiry regarding the status of Blocker Road.

When asked in an interview after the commissioners' court meeting if they planned to increase the number of miles of roads for the construction plan next year, Anderson said it would be difficult. The price of road oil is up this year compared to last year, he said. Plus, the recession has entities curbing their spending and tightening budgets. The judge said there has been talks of furloughs across the state because of the recession and many entities are having to layoff employees including the city.

"We're doing our very best to keep that from happening in the county. I think we will be able to (and) be able to set aside some dollars for difficult times, knowing that those difficult times will come," he said.

In addition to road construction, Jones also gave an update on the T-hangar project at the county's airport. He said the "schedule one contractor" has completed the building. He expects the "schedule two" contractor to be finished and ready for TxDOT's inspection by the end of this month.

Judge Anderson noted that 80 percent of the T-hangar project was paid for by a grant. The 20 percent the county gave for the project comes from timber and oil and gas sales from the airport.

"It has to be spent at the airport," the judge said of the sales. "That is a legal requirement."

In other business commissioners approved:

Utility applications submitted to the Harrison County Road & Bridge Department.

A temporary drainage easement for County Road #3600/Noonday West Road in Precinct 3.

A draw request totalling $95,101.41 payable to Ferguson Waterworks for materials only for the Karnack Water Supply Company project.

The renewal of the SAVNS Maintenance Contract for the Texas Vine Grant in the amount of $18,282 with the Office of the Attorney General and Harrison County for the state fiscal year 2011.

Approval of the hangar lease agreement for existing hangar #11 between Piney Branch LLC, Julianna Snider Parr with said lease terms negotiated between Al Davis, assistant district attorney, and Dean Searle, attorney for Piney Branch, and to correct yearly lease cost from seven cents per square yard to seven cents per square foot in the May 10 minutes and authorization for the county judge to execute the lease agreement.

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