According to the Platte County 2002 biennial bridge inspection report, nearly half of the 68 bridges in Platte County are in poor condition.
Public Works Director Dale Thomas told county commissioners that of those 68 bridges, 30 are in poor condition, two are closed, 12 are in satisfactory condition, and 24 are in good condition.
The bridges in the county are required by the Federal Highway Administration to be inspected every two years by the Missouri Department of Transportation’s off system bridge inspector.
According to Thomas, this year’s inspection resulted in the upgrade of three bridges and the downgrade of one bridge from satisfactory to poor.
“Many of the county’s bridges, although rated as satisfactory or good, are obsolete,” said Thomas. “This means they are no longer wide enough or heavy enough for today’s traffic.”
Of the 68 bridges, 38 have qualified for federal funds from the BRO program for rehabilitation or replacement. Thomas stated that Platte County receives approximately $185,000 a year from this program.
Due to the funds, the county has undergone action steps for the rehabilitation and replacement of some of the most needed bridges in Platte County.
Thomas reported that the River Road Bridge is currently undergoing construction, the Sharps Station Bridge final plans are complete with construction to begin this summer, and engineering for the Humphrey’s Access Bridge is scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
He also stated that the City of Weston has secured enhancement funds for the Thomas Street Bridge, the county is working with Weston for the replacement of the Spring Street Bridge, county crews have repaired the deck on one bridge and will replace the deck on another this summer, and the county will perform strengthening work this fall on the bridge that was downgraded in this year’s inspection.
“In conjunction with the county’s Roads Master Plan, Storm Water Plan and Land Use Plan, the public works department is working on a bridge rehabilitation and replacement program that will address the current and future needs of the county,” said Thomas.
In other business, commissioners signed into a cooperative agreement with the City of Houston Lake for the collection of their personal property and real estate tax. Houston Lake made the request of the county’s collector’s office, to begin the collection as of January 1. The county currently collects taxes for every city that has a levy with the exception of Lake Waukomis.
Commissioners also heard a report from Platte County Clerk Sandy Krohne regarding the 2002 railroad and utility property statement. Due to state statutes, Krohne is required to submit the report indicating the miles of road in each taxing jurisdiction in Platte County that are owned, leased or used by the Railroad and Utility Companies as of Jan. 1, 2002.
The figures combine assessments from railroad companies, pipeline companies, telephone companies, and power companies. This year’s evaluation is $17,871,744, which is over last year’s figure of $17, 502,605.
It was also reported that for the month of April, 19 single family housing permits were issued, which is 58 permits overall for the year. This figure was up over last year’s figure. The total evaluation for April for the unincorporated portion of Platte County was $12,708,240.
A bid award from All Pro Ford of Platte City for the purchase of an SUV by the sheriff’s department was approved. The cost is $49.97 above dealer’s cost.
Request for bids were also announced for a motorgrader and a heavy duty pick-up by the public works department. Both bids are due by 1:30 p.m., May 23. The motorgrader is a budgeted item with an estimated cost of $145,000. Also a budgeted item, the heavy duty pick-up is an estimated cost of $26,000. Both requests are a part of the public works department five-year equipment upgrade plan.
Several resolutions were also passed by the commission in recognition of law enforcement memorial day, in support of the Mid-America Regional Council’s MetroGreen Initiatives, proclaiming May, 2002 as National Bike Month, and the proclamation of May 6-12 as Severe Weather Awareness Week.