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Covered bridge authority shifts focus beyond Goddard
Tuesday, June 28, 2005 8:00 PM EDT
In Tuesday's meeting of the authority, Chairman Steve Donovan said he would like to see contracts on Cabin Creek Covered Bridge in Lewis County, Ringos Mills Covered Bridge and Grange City Covered Bridge in Fleming County bid this summer. Intech Contractors Inc. holds the contract on Johnson Creek Bridge in Robertson County.
"We are going to discuss the contract on Johnson Creek with the contractors," Donovan said. "We want to ask the people of Robertson County what they want restored on their bridge. We want to know how they would like for the bridge to look."
When Intech announced plans to remove the Goddard Covered Bridge and take the structure to Lancaster to be restored, the public stepped in to protest the plan.
The result was a new law governing the restoration of Kentucky's covered bridges, sponsored by Rep. Mike Denham. The law states that the Transportation Cabinet will not do repairs totaling more than $50,000 without a public hearing to discuss the project.
The contract with Intech was redesigned to include a clause from the new law that requires covered bridge restoration experts to be part of the project. Experts Dave Fischetti and Arnold Graton are working on the Goddard project.
Donovan said that although the work on Goddard has not started, the project is being monitored heavily and work should begin by mid-July.
"Those of us interested in the Goddard Bridge, meet at the Department of Transportation every Thursday morning to discuss the progress," Donovan said. "Anyone is invited and many people in the area have made it a priority to be there."
Kentucky Heritage Council representative Patrick Kennedy is among those attending the meetings held at District 9 office in Flemingsburg.
The authority is made up of a representative from each of the five Buffalo Trace counties. Bill Wheaton represents Robertson County. His concern is the Johnson Creek Bridge.
"I want to know if the work on Johnson Creek Bridge will be as drawn out as the Goddard Bridge." Wheaton said. "It seems the work at Goddard has been drawn out and drawn out."
Donovan agreed that the Goddard project has taken months longer than expected, but by working out the kinks in the whole restoration system, the process shouldn't take as long the next time around.
The authority has more than $60,000 in the till, money to be used for upkeep of grounds. Two men have been contracted to mow around the bridges, one at Johnson Creek, Cabin Creek and Walcott and another will mow around the bridges in Fleming County. Donovan added Dover to the upkeep list.
The authority heard an update of the Covered Bridge Festival to be held in Fleming County. The event is scheduled for Aug. 27 at the Fleming Mason Energy field house.
Festivities begin at 9 a.m. and continue throughout the day until 5 p.m. Among the many activities will be guided tours to the county's bridges. Tour buses will leave the field house at regular intervals during the day.
Music, crafts and speakers will also be on hand to celebrate the covered bridges.
Contact Danetta Barker at Danetta.Barker@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 272.
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