Stone Bridge maintenance may have to wait

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     With a lot of talk circulating the county regarding Ely’s Stone Bridge outside Monticello, County Engineer Derek Snead offered his thoughts on the project during the Nov. 29 Jones County Supervisor meeting.

     The bridge, which was built in 1893, is in need of repairs and maintenance. A group from the University of Colorado was here earlier this fall to survey and study the bridge. By the end of the year, this group of engineers, researchers and students hope to put a plan together to present to the county. This plan would outline what action needs to be taken to save Stone Bridge.

     Snead explained that any repairs to Stone Bridge Road are done using local funding. The bridge itself is eligible for a STP (Surface Transportation Program) block grant. Snead said this grant would require a local match.

     “We get bridge money each year to replenish (that fund),” said Snead.

     He told the board that if Stone Bridge were added to the Secondary Roads’ five-year construction program, another structure would have to be removed.

     “Within the four or five-year mark,” said Snead of the program, “we’re getting in the negative on all funds.”

     Over the course of time, Snead commented that he hasn’t really added many bridges to the five-year program, but rather taken a couple of them off.

     He said five to 10 years ago, there was a shift to focus more attention on bridge structures. Now, with the county’s PCC paved surfaces in bad shape, what Snead termed the “worst shape,” he’s focusing on the roads more than anything. There are two paved road projects slated for the proposed program.

     “The roads need it more,” he said. “Fifty to 60 percent of our paved roads are over their life expectancy.”

     Should the county receive funding for Stone Bridge, Snead said some particular funding sources have string attached.

     “These tend to increase the project costs,” he explained.

 In other county business:

     • A recent court conjunction on the new Fair Labor Standards Act prompted the county to rescind previous action regarding two county employees.

     The act was proposed to go into effect Dec. 1.

     The board previously approved moving Lisa Tallman, senior dining; and Kathy Koerperich, JETS, to hourly to comply with the law. Both would still receive the same rate of pay.

     County Auditor Janine Sulzner said the act may no longer go into effect.

     The board voted to rescind their action, keeping Tallman and Koerperich at salary, but asked that they continue to keep track of their hours for future reference.

     • Land Use Administrator Michele Lubben said during the Nov. 22 Board of Adjustment meeting, a variance request was denied due to the landowners not meeting the minimum 40-acre requirement for a farmstead split, and the fact that the farm was previously split in 2009.

Category:

Subscriber Login