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Expert calls condition of bridge 'embarassing' |
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Written by Reporter1
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Friday, 11 July 2008 |
By ERIC MANN
Grant specialist Dave Milligan of Portland said at a meeting with the county commissioners this week said that competition for a federal grant to restore the covered bridge near Ceylon will be "fierce" because of so much flood damage across Indiana
this year.
The grant is being sought by South Adams Trails Inc. (SATI), a Berne-Geneva group that is creating a system of walking and biking paths which will include the covered bridge.
Wayne Bailey, a project development specialist with Commonwealth Engineers of Indianapolis, said at the meeting that if the grant is not approved, the state will provide guidance about how to improve it so the application could be resubmitted six months later.
Amos Schwartz of Geneva, a covered bridge restoration expert, said it is "embarrassing" to have a bridge in such bad shape "in my back yard." He explained some of the problems the bridge has and said that holding dinner parties on it, as has been done, puts a lot of weight on the span if 150 or so people gather.
However, Schwartz pushed for the bridge to be made so strong that it would be able to have regular vehicular traffic again, not just walkers and bikers.
He also said that, with the Wabash River there, a fire sprinkler system to protect the wooden structure should be added.
County Engineer Tim Barkey spoke against allowing motorized traffic on the bridge, saying, "I'm not certain that's necessary," and Commissioner Steve Baumann also opposed the idea, while hoping that this fix will allow the bridge to last 150 to 200 years.
It was noted that $2,500 a year in state funds comes to the county to help maintain the bridge and County Auditor Bill Borne said there is $7,000 to $8,000 in that account.
Commissioner Ed Coil made it clear that the money for the bridge project should come from state or federal sources or from local fundraising or donations. He pointed out that a local man called him to protest the use of any county money for "a bridge to nowhere" as long as that man lives on an unpaved road.
Doug Milligan, clerk-treasurer of Geneva and a member of the trail committee, said a list is being compiled of prospective local donors to the project and, looking at the three county commissioners, he smiled and said, "You're on it."
Steve Krull, who has led the Decatur-Adams County Parks and Recreation Department for 36 years, commended the project and said that, with the South Adams Trails connection and the historic and tourist sites in the south end of the county, the bridge restoration is "more worthwhile" and "a big plus for Adams County."
Commissioner Doug Bauman had the final word, declaring to the SATI members and others involved in the project, "We wish you all the success in the world." |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 14 July 2008 )
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