By TONY GUERRERO
Hays Post
The Ellis County Public Works director will discuss plans for road repairs and improvements on 48th Street, Vineyard Road and Commerce Parkway during the Ellis County Commission meeting at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Public Works Director Brendan Mackay will present the 48th Street repairs, which involve milling the existing asphalt and applying hot mix asphalt layers. The Vineyard Road and Commerce Parkway improvements focus on upgrading the surface from gravel and sand to asphalt.
The commissioners must approve the project by authorizing staff to proceed with Bettis Asphalt & Construction, allowing construction to begin in August.
Traffic lights at Canterbury Drive and Old Highway 40 intersection
Commissioner Neal Younger requested a review of the turn signals at the Highway 40 and Canterbury Drive intersection. The recently installed westbound traffic pole includes extra wiring to potentially add left-turn signals in the future.
The request for a left-turn signal is driven by the expected increase in northbound traffic on Canterbury Drive once the new high school is completed.
Public Works Director Brendan Mackay will evaluate whether to proceed with the installation or keep the existing setup.
Purplewave auction
County Administrator Darin Myers will request approval from the county commissioners to sell a list of items through Purplewave, an online auction platform.
The items consist of fleet management program vehicles and miscellaneous equipment that various departments no longer use.
Proceeds will support the fleet management program and be allocated to each department's non-budgeted revenue fund.
Ellis County Fire Department truck modifications
Myers will also request approval to upgrade two fire brush trucks by transferring their utility bodies onto new Ford F-550 chassis.
One truck will be assigned to Victoria and the other to Ellis. Additional upgrades include a new LED emergency lighting system, a replacement front bumper, and the installation of a new radio and siren system.
Noxious weed report
Weed Control Supervisor Gary Haas will seek approval for the annual report, which provides an overview of the county's weed control efforts, including financial data, weed surveys and herbicide applications.
The commissioners must also approve the 2025 management plan, which outlines the county's strategy for controlling noxious weeds for the following year.
Organization updates
Amanda Rupp of the Ellis County Historical Society and Craig Poe, executive director of High Plains Mental Health, will also update the county commission on their respective organizations.
You can view the full agenda here.