Commissioners Receive Update on Road Bond

TYLER — The Smith County Commissioners Court received its first monthly update Tuesday on the $39.5 million bond package to improve county roads. Steven Adams, managing director of Specialized Public Finance Inc., said the bonds are planned to be issued in three parts over the next three years. The county plans to sell $12 million in bonds in May, followed by the sale of another $12 million in 2019, and $15.5 million in 2020, or as needed to complete the bond projects. Adams said he believed the county would see a number of bids, which may result in their sale at lower interest rates because of the solid financial condition and rating of the county.

County Engineer Frank Davis also gave the court a list of work the Road and Bridge Department has completed in the first quarter of 2018 – October through December. Davis said two major road projects, paid for with specially budgeted funding, were completed. Big Eddy Road, or County Road 1261, was widened and overlaid. Pennie and Clint Drives, which are also known as CR 1253 and run off of Big Eddy Road, were also improved. The second major road project completed was overlaying Deerwood Estates — County Roads 2328, 2323 and 2294.