Plans to demolish 4 Greene County bridges streamlined
WAYNESBURG – An environmental permit and engineering plans approved by the Greene County commissioners Thursday will expedite the demolition of four county bridges.
The commissioners agreed to pay $24,192 to Widmer Engineering for the firm to begin engineering work and preparing the proper permits that must be submitted to state Department of Environmental Protection before demolition begins.
The preparation work will allow a future contractor to raze the bridges immediately and then sell stone and metal from the spans to “make it more attractive” to recoup costs, county chief clerk Jeff Marshall said.
The county bridges that are slated for demolition include No. 1 near East View, No. 26 on the Franklin and Morgan townships line, No. 87 in Cumberland Township and No. 92 between Morgan Township and the Washington County line. All have been closed for at least 10 years, Marshall said, and are at least 100 years old.
Marshall said they expect to go out to bid for a contractor later this year, and the permits and engineering work will streamline the process for whichever company is selected. Commissioner Blair Zimmerman said most of the material from the bridges, such as stone and metal, can be recycled, allowing for the costs of demolition to be lowered.
“People are looking for that cut stone,” Zimmerman said.
Also during Thursday’s meeting, the commissioners awarded a $999,557 contract to Morgan Excavating LP of Belle Vernon to construct a road from the redesigned airport entrance at Route 21 to the three parcels available for commercial development.
In other business, the commissioners approved an agreement with county solicitor Cheryl Cowen, who also serves the Children and Youth Services agency’s attorney, which will pay her $125,000. Human services solicitor Gregory Hook, also the solicitor for Farmland Preservation, the coroner’s office and clerk of courts, will be paid $85,000, a figure that was increased by $5,000 due to an error included in Wednesday’s workshop agenda. Meanwhile, Jeffry Grimes, an attorney for Children and Youth Services, will be paid $33,000.
Commissioner Dave Coder was appointed to a vacant seat on the Greene County Fair Board.
The commissioners also reminded the public that applications for the county’s recreation grants must be submitted by March 1.