County seeks maintenance agreement with KCS
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Having received a verbal promise to keep drainage culverts clean, the Wharton County Commissioners will be looking to get that commitment down on paper during Monday's regular meeting.

The agenda item, if approved, would authorize County Judge John Murrile to sign a maintenance agreement between the county and Kansas City Southern Railroad.

"During a meeting with the railroad a couple of weeks ago in El Campo, they said they were planning on using culverts instead of span bridges at some creek and drainage crossings," Murrile said.

"They also said they would have someone running the tracks daily to check the rails and we requested they also check the culverts."

Murrile said the concern is that flood or other debris could be trapped by the culverts and could restrict flow during a flood causing the water to back up into pastures and potentially into homes and out buildings.

"Any blockages could be a problem," the judge said. "Since they were already inspecting the track, I figured they could also check the culverts and they agreed verbally.

"But the court would just be more comfortable with something in writing so we'll work up an agreement, approve it and then pass it on to them for approval."