Board approves closure of two county bridges

Board of Supervisors
By: 
Kim Brooks
Express Editor

     During the April 25 Jones County Supervisor meeting, the board voted to officially close two bridges within the county: Ely’s Stone Bridge in Monticello and Shaw Road Bridge over the Wapsipinicon River in Anamosa.

     While the board ordered Stone Bridge closed following their meeting last week, April 18, formal action was not taken.

     The reasoning behind the Stone Bridge closure is due to a section of the stone façade falling off, and the undermining of the concrete deck. County Engineer Derek Snead said it is also a safety factor with such a narrow structure on a paved road.

     “I’d hate for someone to go over it and break up the slab even more,” voiced Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach.

     Snead also advised that Stone Bridge would be closed to walking and bicycling traffic as well.

     At the previous board meeting, the board voted to sell the bridge to the Jones County Historic Preservation Commission for $1. The Commission, and its partners, will then raise the necessary funds needed to repair the historic structure.

     Snead also asked the board to close Shaw Road Bridge due to a fracture on the north span.

     He said a bridge inspection was performed a week prior, and the fracture was found on the steel truss bridge.

     “It was built in the 1920s,” explained Snead, “and there are lots of issues with it. The piers are in very poor shape, and the concrete deck is very fragile.”

     There is a short detour around the bridge.

     “We have no immediate plans for replacement,” advised Snead.

     Shaw Road Bridge sees about 140 vehicles a day. Snead said the main traffic stems from businesses in that area: Scooters Bar & Grill, the Anamosa Vet Clinic and a neighboring subdivision.

     “It was previously posted for 10 tons in 2013,” he said.

     Snead told the board that he would like to put some plans together as far as the removal of the bridge.

     “It’ll take some time,” he said.

     Emergency Management Coordinator Brenda Leonard asked to be kept in the loop because one of her flood gauges is attached to the bridge.

     “We do not have plans to take down the bridge anytime soon,” said Snead. “But, you will have to remove the gauge (at some point).”

     Leonard said the county would have to pay up to $5,000 to relocate the gauge to another bridge along the Wapsipinicon River.

     Tom Welch and Keith Vernon were also present to voice their concerns about the bridge closure.

     Welch said if the county has to close Shaw Road Bridge, he would like to see something done to improve the Landis Road Bridge over the Wapsi.

     “We’d like to keep our ag equipment off (Highway) 151 if we could,” he said of the access to that area. Welch said hauling multiple wagons behind a tractor does not leave them enough space to enter the highway and the median safely.

     “It’s rather dangerous,” he added. “If the bridge at Landis (was improved), we could stay off 151 quite a bit.” Right now there is a 3-ton load limit placed on the Landis Road Bridge.

     Snead said there is nothing on the Secondary Road construction program concerning Landis Bridge. “It would be a sizable investment,” he said of the project, similar to that of Eby’s Mill between $1.5 and $2 million.

     “Rather than replace it with a large structure,” he suggested, “let’s fix up four or five others (structures).”

     However, Supervisor Wayne Manternach commented that Landis might be worth looking at.

     “It sounds like it might be necessary to get a bridge put in that area, though,” he said.

     “The people who live around Landis count on that bridge,” said Welch.

In other county business:

     • The board approved four bids for contract rock to be placed over 200 miles of Jones County roads: Bruening Rock Products Inc., Decorah, $99,750; River City Stone, Dubuque, $103,443.90; Weber Stone Co., Anamosa, $397,501; and Wendling Quarries Inc., DeWitt, $283,156.

     Snead said the average price this year per ton came out at $9.17. Last year it was at $8.45 a ton.

     The total for contract rock this year comes out at around $880,000, with $820,000 budgeted for material.

     “Going a little over is not an issue,” voiced Snead.

     The contract rock completion date is June 16.

     The board approved the purchase of land along County Road X-75 for the new Wyoming Maintenance Shop for Secondary Roads. The purchase is 2.18 acres at $20,000.

     • County Treasurer Amy Picray presented the county’s quarterly investment reports.

     As of Match 31, the county has over $2.14 million invested in CDs. Picray said this is up from about $94,000 from a year ago. The county’s total in CDs, MMF (money market fund), and checking is over $19.83 million, up $1.5 million a year ago. Picray attributed that to the timing of property tax collections. The county’s total assets of $26.26 million are up $403,000 from a year ago as well.

     The Solid Waste Commission has over $2.09 million in CDs. Picray said that is down $161,000 from a year ago due to expenditures. The Commission’s total assets, $2.22 million, are also down $99,000 from a year ago.

     The supervisors filed a notice from the City of Monticello approving the voluntary severance of property located along Business Highway 151 south of the Maquoketa River, owned by Robert and Susan Pillard. That property will now be part of the county.

     The board approved to take part in the Grant Wood Loop and Keep Iowa Beautiful Home Town Pride Program.

     This will be a five-year agreement, with optional renewal on an annual basis. KIB will provide $75,000 a year for five years for Home Town Pride activities. Jones County has agreed to become a partner in KIB, providing up to $5,000 a year for five years.

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