The Marshall County Council members are in support of an increase to the Cumulative Bridge Fund.
The proposed increase is for $.0524 cents per $100 assessed valuation. The average taxpayer would see an increase of $26.20. County officials are anticipating a deficit in that fund in 2019 which causes concern about funds to rebuild bridges for public safety.
The fund has been stagnant for about 14 years in terms of an increase. The fund is used strictly to repair the county’s bridges. Highway Supervisor Jason Peters noted that the county has over 100 bridges and four bridge projects are on the docket for the next few years.
Commissioner Kurt Garner presented information to the council members Monday morning that included the fact that the fund will be in the red as soon as next year.
“USI, that’s our bridge consultant, in their schedule of bridge replacement projects, were estimating that we were going to have about a $2.2-$2.3 million deficit by 2023 or within about five years,” said Garner. “There’s a number of bridge projects that we’ve got ongoing as well as those two that we received funding for from the federal call for projects at Upas Road and 11th Road. So, we really need to start building up that fund.”
The commissioners and council members are also aware of the flood repair to roads, ditches, and at least seven bridges which will have to be funded with the hope that FEMA will provide some reimbursement assistance.
The commissioners are in favor of the increase to produce another $660,000 to assist the fund to maintain public safety and plans on moving forward with that proposal. Garner stated that the county can’t afford to have bridges out as the county officials are focused on public safety.
The council members unanimously voted to support the increase. A public hearing on the matter is set for Monday, March 19 at 10:30 a.m. during the commissioners meeting in the second floor meeting room in the Marshall County Building at 112 W. Jefferson Street in Plymouth.
