County ponders what to do with the Old Wright Bridge

A comment about the Old Wright Bridge at last week’s Foster County Commission meeting led to a discussion about how residents feel about their infrastructure.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, May 16, commission chairman Alan Scanson said no one came in to talk about the Wright Bridge until now.

County engineer Mike Rivinius said a few residents do not want that bridge torn down, but a previous estimated cost came in at around $30,000 to repair the bridge.

The bridge was recently surveyed and the surveyors suggested putting in a new bridge, but a new bridge would cost over a million dollars.

Rivinius told the board that there could be some grant funding to help with the cost, but wasn’t sure of the amount.

In other business:

• Commissioner Becky Hagel reported that the part of the bill about human service zone employees becoming state employees was omitted before the bill was passed.

• Commissioner David Utke spoke briefly about the SIRN system and how counties need to start preparing and ordering new radios.

•The board passed a motion to follow the state’s recommendation on burn restrictions.

• Utke reported that indigent burials were increased by the legislature to $3,100.

• Again, there was nothing new on the gravel pit issue, but the board agreed to discuss selling it at their next meeting.

• It was reported the county received one bid on their hayland.

• There are three roads within the county that are still closed: the Clark/Hart Bridge; two roads in Estabrook Township and 5th St. S in Melville.

• The board approved spending $10,000 to fix a spot on Lampert Corner on the Club Hall Road in Kensal that is not broken out yet, but might need reinforcing. Both lanes will be affected.

• The docks were placed in the water at Juanita Lake on May 8th.