Gilmer County commissioners declared two bridges on Rock Creek Road to be an emergency situation in need of a resolution.
County Chair Charlie Paris made the motion at a special called meeting Monday, May 22.
“I think it has been an issue that has continued to escalate to an even more dangerous situation,” said County Attorney David Clark.
Paris gave two reasons to declare the situation an emergency. First, he said the bridges were being used by vehicles in excess of the reduced weight limits. The limits were placed on the bridge because of deterioration.
Second, Paris said an extreme rainstorm could wipe out one or both of the bridges.
Post Commissioner John Marshall pointed out the people who live in between the bridges would have no access if the bridges were both lost.
The declaration will allow the county to choose a contractor for the project, foregoing the bidding process, and expediting the replacement.
Commissioners undertook the declaration after receiving a report from an engineering firm about the bridges.
“We’ve waited all this time thinking we were going to get something to tell us how to proceed and all we got, the way I read the thing, was, ‘for $218,000 we’ll give you that,’” Paris said. “It was a little frustrating for me.”
Paris said for the $218,000 they could almost afford the box culverts they were going to replace the bridges with originally.
Originally, he said they were shocked it was going to cost $1.2 million to order the box culverts and get them placed.
“I am beginning to think that would be a bargain for those two bridges, rather than what it is ultimately going to cost to replace them,” Paris said.
Post Commissioner Hubert Parker said he was in favor of the box culverts in the beginning.
He said the communication with the engineering firm should have been clear, and the county should have known what they were going to get.
Pool bathrooms
Paris told the board the bathrooms at the pool are not functional. He said they needed to be renovated or some other solution would have to be reached in order to open the pool once construction was complete.
Commissioners decided to use the bathrooms deeper inside the civic center to serve the pool this year. They discussed putting down rubber mats to avoid slipping.
In the meantime, the board authorized Paris to find an architect or engineer to design specifications for the pool bathroom renovations.
The bathroom and shower area would be renovated after the pool closes this year.