County to develop online site for tracking road bond projects

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas — In keeping with the county's goals of transparency and accountability on its road bond projects, County Judge Craig Doyal has proposed the county update work on its road bond projects online so voters can monitor their progress.

County Commissioners approved the proposal at Tuesday's Commissioners Court meeting.

"Having asked voters to support these bonds, it is imperative we provide updated information on how those dollars are being put to use," Judge Doyal said. The site will be similar to the interactive map the county produced to educate the public during the road bond elections.

Chief of Staff Jim Fredricks, County Engineer Mark Mooney, staff from each of the commissioners precincts, and the county's IT department will soon meet to hammer out the details for a page and interactive map on the county's Web site that will provide updated project reports on the county's $280 million road bond election.

Once developed, the county will share the Web site links with area media and promote it through its own social media efforts.

The action follows the county's approval in principle of a process to ensure all road bond projects are reviewed by the County Engineer's Office to ensure that county taxpayers are protected in contracts involving outside engineering firms. Commissioners are broadening that policy to other contracts as well.

"The voters have placed their faith in us by supporting the $280 million road bond; we owe it to them to ensure that the projects completed with these funds go through a transparent and accountable process to ensure taxpayers get the best value possible for the money they approved," Judge Doyal said.