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Bridge closures were still the main topic of discussion during the regular schedule Board of Supervisors meeting, Monday, October 2, 2017.
A total of 15 bridges have been closed and critical reports have been given on repairs that are needed.
How to pay for these repairs was the main topic of discussion.
Three options are one to do nothing and leave bridges closed. Supervisors are not entertaining that option at all. Second would be to use funds that were budgeted for bridge repair of $72,000 and culvert repairs of $75,000 for the year. One of the concerns with using this money is there would be no money left in the budget for repairs the remaining year if needed. Third is to pass an emergency bond/note. At this point the board is unsure if the Legislatures will appropriate any monies at the beginning of session for 2018. The board does not want to raise taxes. They are doing everything in their power to keep increases form happening. The cost to repair all 15 bridges is an estimated amount of $150,000-$200,000.
There are 150 bridges in Simpson County. State Aid randomly chose 35 bridges to inspect in Simpson County. The next annual inspection will begin in July 2018. A concern is if 15 of the 35 bridges were found with critical issues how many would be affected next year. The inspections and critical findings are a bleeding source that will need funding and budgeting for future.
The bridges that seemed to be targeted were the ones with timer pilings. Simpson County has 150 bridges and 70 of these have timber pilings.
The board approved to hire Grant Blakeney of Taylorsville to repair the pilings on seven of the bridges that have been determined heavily traveled and with the smallest and quickest repair solutions at this time. Mr. Blakeney stated he could start ASAP. Bridges to be repaired first are Davis Sherman Road Bridge #143, Harrisville Braxton Road Bridge #59, Jupiter Road Bridge #11 (towards Highway 28 past Robert Bush Road.), New Hope Road Bridge #109 near Highway 49, Saratoga Sharon Road Bridge #97 near Highway 28, Star Braxton Road Bridge #68, and Tom Berry Road Bridge #21 near Highway 49. These bridge repairs would cost approximately $78,000.
Only two or three of the closed bridges would be eligible to covert from a bridge to tank culverts. A decision is being researched if the conversion is a wise and beneficial decision.
The remaining closed bridges, not listed above, required additional repairs beyond pilings. The needed repairs will take a longer time frame to complete.
Bridge inspections was ordered by State Aid. By not repairing or closing bridges, county and state would face losing federal funds.
After a lengthy discussion, the board decided to use the appropriated money that was budgeted for bridge repair and culverts. The board would wait and see if any money is designated from the state or federal government after the first session of the 2018 Legislature before making a decision on where the county stands financially and if a tax increase is needed.
These bridges will take approximately one day per piling to complete. At this point, 30 pilings are to be replaced. With weather permitting and no unseen problems, previously named bridges would take at least a month or longer to repair. Following completion of repairs, an inspector from State Aid would return to work sites, inspect bridges, and approve repairs before bridges can be reopened.
