The covered bridge in Mill Race Park is set to get a new roof after action taken during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Bartholomew County Council. County Highway Engineer Danny Hollander requested an additional appropriation of $30,350 to help cover the cost of the project, which he anticipates will cost around $45,000 in total. The rest, he says, will come out of the county’s cumulative bridge fund.

Hollander says this project has been needed for three or four years, but tight finances have pushed the project down on the list of priorities. He says that each county with a covered bridge gets $1,300 per year from the state to help maintain them. Hollander says that money stays in one fund until spent, adding that Tuesday night’s action will bring that balance to zero. Hollander added that the recent increase in the gas tax has brought money into the county that was not appropriated, making this project easier to fund.

County Council Jorge Morales questioned if this is a good use of county taxpayer funds. He argued that since the bridge is in a city park, and is “not used for a bridge,” the money could be better spent elsewhere. Hollander corrected Morales, noting that since the bridge is on a public road and is used for vehicle traffic, the county is obligated to maintain it. Council member Laura DeDomenic says that construction in the area has made the route more popular with motorists in recent weeks.

There has been no word as to when work on the covered bridge will commence.