A historic county bridge may soon become a decorative city bridge.
The Goodman Bridge, located off CR 789 near Douglass, is more than 100 years old and in desperate need of repairs. The county commissioners met Tuesday to discuss plans for replacing the structure without losing its history, and the court should be able to do it at no cost to the taxpayers.
Christy Wooten/The Daily Sentinel |
The historic Goodman Bridge in Douglass will soon be replaced with a new structure, but the county commissioners are working to move the bridge to a new location.
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The Texas Department of Transportation has agreed to fund a new, two-lane replacement for the aging one-lane bridge, Pct. 2 Commissioner Reggie Cotton said. Goodman Bridge is rated for a maximum load of 17,000 pounds, and it has become a safety hazard, Cotton said, who added the bridge is in a high-traffic area between Nacogdoches and Cherokee counties. Large trucks that exceed the structure's weight limit, including heavy saltwater trucks, often use the bridge.
Once the new bridge is in place, the old one will be transported to the city. Though city and county officials originally discussed moving it to the site of the city's proposed aquatic park, the bridge looks set to be put to use as a walkway across Lanana Creek, Cotton said. A private citizen has offered to transport the bridge to its new home at no cost, Cotton said, though he said he did not know how the bridge would be moved.
Patricia Goodman-Samares read a letter to the court on behalf of her family in support of moving the bridge.
"If it's not possible for the bridge to remain in its original location, we're anxious to see it utilized in a different location in Nacogdoches County," she said. "We are very thankful for the effort to preserve the historic bridge."The court also heard a brief presentation on a proposed aquatic facility that could be built in the city near University Drive and Park Street. The county commissioners voiced their support of the park, which is expected to cost around $4.7 million, with funding to come through private donations. The commissioners only voted on a resolution in support of the city's plans, and the county did not budget any money to help fund the park.
The park would include a 10,000-square-foot leisure pool with a separate four-lane lap pool, several water slides, lazy river and other park amenities. The park is a planned replacement for the Maroney Park facility, which is in need of repairs and experiencing a drop in attendance, according to Kathy Joslyn, parks and recreation director.
The commissioners also appointed two new members to the county personnel committee. Joann Box, an employee in the road and bridge department, and Expo Manager Bill Plunkett will join five other county employees and officials on the committee. Plunkett and Box will replace Cotton and Pct. 3 Commissioner Jim Elder, who both resigned from the committee Tuesday. The committee is reviewing salaries for county employees and will make recommendations for adjustments to the commissioners. Cotton said participating on the committee and then voting on their recommendations could pose conflict of interest problems. Cotton and Elder join Pct. 1 Commissioner Jerry Don Williamson as members of the court who have resigned from the group. Williamson chose not to participate on the committee because he disagreed with keeping the meetings open to the public.
In other business, the court:
Renewed a bond for Pct. 1 Reserve Deputy Constable Terry Denny.
Paid invoices, heard May treasurer's report, and accepted financial statements for May 2009.
