Citing concerns over the economy and taxes, Montgomery County Commissioners Court pulled a discussion on a proposed $335 million road bond issue from its agenda Monday.

“We’re going to defer to an undetermined later date,” said Montgomery County Judge Alan B. Sadler. “My question is the economy and the tax base. I have too many questions today, and it is too much to pursue with this many questions in the air. We are concerned about its effect on taxation.”

Montgomery County Commissioners Court has until March 8 to decide if the bond issue should go to voters in May.

The funds would have been used to repair or replace dozens of major roads in the county, among them Woodlands Parkway and Grogan’s Mill Road in South County; Nichols Sawmill and Hardin Store roads in West County; Walker and Calvary roads in North County; and Sorters and Fostoria roads in East County.

The county had discussed the bond issue last year, but postponed any action until 2010 because of the economy.

“I don’t think there is sufficient support,” said Commissioner Ed Chance of Precinct 3. “There was too many indecisive comments.”

Unlike the current $160 million bond issue, where the majority of the bond used a new funding mechanism that allowed to pay for the roads upfront and be reimbursed by the state based on its usage, the new bond would use traditional debt to upgrade the county’s aging infrastructure. The county currently is carrying about $400 million in debt, said Sadler.

The county may revisit the bonds at a future date if economic conditions improve, Sadler said.

In another matter, Montgomery County Commissioners Court hired an engineer for traffic management in the county. The engineer would oversee the county’s NorthStar system, a traffic management tool used on traffic lights in unincorporated areas of the county, and for traffic studies for new stop signs and traffic lights. Currently, the county had to contract out these studies.

The NorthStar system is expected to move from South County to the Commissioners Court building in the near future to be more centrally located. It handles about 150 traffic lights throughout the county, Chance said.

The position will be filled by Rick Wong, of Wilbur Smith Associates, who had done much of the design work for traffic lights in the county.

Finally, Montgomery County Commissioners Court adopted new standards at the Lone Star Executive Airport to allow the sale of self-serve fuel. A self-serve fuel option would allow the facility to be more competitive against other airports in the area.

Commissioners Court approved minimum standards that allows only fixed based operators to provide self-serve fuel. Fixed based operators are those that provide aircraft fueling, hangar, tie down, parking, maintenance or rental services at the airport.

Montgomery County Road Bond

A $335 million road bond for Montgomery County would repair or replace dozens of major roads in the county. A bond election was postponed on the matter by Montgomery County Commissioners Court Monday. Following are a partial list of the project targeted in each precinct.

Precinct 1 (North County)
Walden Road
Calvary Road
New road for Lone Star Executive Airport off FM 1484
Safety improvements for many roads, including striping and reflectors

Precinct 2
Nichols-Sawmill Road
Hardin Store Road
Dobbin-Huffsmith Road
Upgrades to Fish Creek Thoroughfare to move to it to state road system

Precinct 3
Woodlands Parkway
Grogran’s Mill Road
North Millbend Circle
East Panther Creek Drive
Cochran’s Crossing Drive

Precinct 4
Ford Road
Sorters Road
Fostoria Road
Crockett-Martin Road