Representatives of the San Patricio County Farm Bureau told the commissioners Monday they support creating a unit road system and a countywide equipment- and vehicle-replacement plan to reduce duplication and improve efficiency across precincts.

The Farm Bureau’s presentation emphasized operational efficiency for farmers and county road crews and urged the court to consider centralizing road maintenance oversight and procurement to secure better prices and reduce surplus equipment. “For county efficiency, we encourage you to do what needs to be done to implement a unit road system,” the Farm Bureau chairman said during the court’s public presentation.

Why it matters: County roads and equipment are funded from county budgets and maintained by precincts; commissioners said more coordinated procurement or a replacement plan could smooth yearly capital needs and reduce spikes in expenditure.

Key points of the presentation and court response
The Farm Bureau said its membership represents landowners across the county and that county roads are central to farm operations. The group argued a unit road system — an arrangement that centralizes maintenance responsibility and assets — and a purchasing oversight procedure could reduce waste and achieve better pricing when bidding for vehicles, heavy equipment and supplies.

Commissioners acknowledged parts of the idea already exist. A commissioner said the county uses the BuyBoard cooperative purchasing program and that county staff sometimes purchase through that mechanism; a county staff member also noted a buyboard fee but said it yields competitive pricing. Commissioners discussed developing a formal replacement schedule for pickups, dump trucks and other equipment so purchases can be planned and potentially bundled for better pricing. One commissioner said, “I would like to see a replacement plan regardless because that helps map out what equipment needs to be auctioned off and how each year we can phase that,” noting he had implemented such a plan at precinct level.

Questions about local vendors and buyboard enrollment
Farm Bureau members said several local dealerships are not on the BuyBoard because of paperwork and encouraged county staff to assist more local vendors with enrollment so purchases stay local when competitive. Commissioners said procurement already includes auditor review and multiple internal checks; they also said a designated county purchaser will soon be assigned to centralize purchasing and improve oversight.

Ending
Commissioners invited further input from the Farm Bureau and flagged possible follow-up workshops. The Farm Bureau said it is willing to participate in drafting a model unit road system that would be tailored to San Patricio County’s geography and needs.