Residents of the Collinsville area in Grayson County have taken matters into their own hands, raising over $165,000 to pave three county roads that have long suffered from dust, potholes and hazardous driving conditions. The community‑driven effort came after county commissioners explained that tight budgets could not justify the work.
Community fundraising and cost‑share
David Sullivan, a longtime resident who helped organize the fundraising, said the white gravel roads produced dust so thick that drivers often had to stop and wait for it to clear. “You actually have to come to a complete stop, let the dust blow by to go on because it’ll get so thick that you can’t even see,” he explained.
In addition to dust, the roads develop potholes and have caused drivers—especially teenage learners—to drift off the pavement. “We’re trying to make it a safe and amenable place to kind of go down the road for our people,” Sullivan added.
County officials explain funding limits
Grayson County Commissioners noted that the roads were not in a state of failure, so the county could not allocate funds for paving under its current budget. Instead, they encouraged a resident cost‑share model. Residents first met with Grayson County Precinct 3 Commissioner Lindsay Wright to obtain a cost estimate and determine how much each household could contribute.
Commissioner Wright confirmed that the residents collectively contributed just over $165,000 for material costs on three roads—Pop Noah, Brewer and County Road 292. The county will provide additional labor, equipment and materials, bringing the total project cost to $244,351.92.
Cooke County partnership
On the Cooke County side, County Road 234 becomes Grayson County Road Pop Noah after crossing the county line. Cooke County Precinct 2 Commissioner Jason Snuggs said the road has generated frequent complaints over dust and vehicles sliding around corners during his ten years in office.
Cooke County residents raised $50,000 to cover material costs for one mile of road. The county covered labor, trucking and equipment costs—estimated at another $50,000—which were completed during the 2026 road season. “Commissioner Snuggs teed me up for success. So he was able to get his done in the road season of 2026,” Wright said.
Next steps and community spirit
Paving is slated to begin between June and September of 2027. Wright recalled the collaborative meetings that followed a winter storm, noting that residents welcomed officials into their homes to discuss the county budget and road‑bridge funding. “I remember it vividly. They welcomed us into their homes. It was really an opportunity for me to step back and be like, okay, here’s the county budget. Here’s how it works,” she said.
During those conversations, residents learned that only $75 of their county tax payments go toward road and bridge funding, underscoring the importance of the cost‑share approach.
Local pride in action
“You know, it’s really pretty cool. We do things together with each other and, you know, it’s just good old‑fashioned Texas folks trying to do things to help each other,” Sullivan said, reflecting the community’s pride in the project.
The successful fundraising and partnership with county officials demonstrate how local residents can address infrastructure challenges when government resources are limited, reinforcing the tradition of self‑reliance and neighborly cooperation that defines Texas communities.
Original reporting: KXII News 12 (Gray) — read the source article.
