Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
The Sweet Home Economic Development Group on Nov. 16 committed $20,000 to the repair of Weddle Bridge, fulfilling its pledge to match community donations to the effort.
The community raised $20,903.17, mostly in cash but with some in-kind donations.
“I’m bringing money,” City Manager Craig Martin said to the board. The City Council had approved a contribution of $6,261.61 from the sale of timber at its water tower as part of the preparations for dispatch service improvements.
The SHEDG Board had originally set a deadline of Oct. 31 to meet its “challenge,” but the board agreed to extend the deadline into early November
By Oct. 31, donations from the following sources had come in for the repairs:
– Weyerhaeuser, $2,000.
Community donations, $3,100.
– Community Foundation, $2,500.
– City of Sweet Home, $1,000.
– Hoy’s Hardware, $2,000 in product.
– Various vendors, in-kind advertising and services.
– City of Sweet Home, in-kind staff time, cash and fencing.
In November, the following donated to the repair:
– City of Sweet Home, $6,261.61 from timber sale.
– Community donations, $1,050.
Members of the logging industry have indicated they will provide beams for the project as well, Martin said. The bridge cannot be repaired using “heartwood.” Beams must be cut from the sides of logs to prevent he beams from twisting after they are used.
The total, about $40,000, will not be enough to repair the bridge, Martin told the board. Initially, efforts were aimed at replacing only the roof. Just after the board had offered its $20,000 matching grant, an engineering report on the bridge showed problems with the bridge’s structure.
Repairs are now estimated to cost between $50,000 to $120,000, Martin said.
Before resuming fund-raising efforts, Martin said he would like to get a firmer number from engineers studying the bridge. That report is expected soon.
After fund-raising efforts and the repairs are complete, the city would retain any remaining cash for on-going maintenance to avoid a repeat of the problems in another 15 to 20 years, Martin said. Theoretically, this should solve the problems long-term.
“Some of the beams were questionable at the time it was assembled,” Martin said. There’s a reason the Weddle Bridge was taken down in the first place. “Unfortunately, I think it kind of got lost in the celebration of it.”
The bridge was brought to Sweet Home from Stayton, where it had been stored after being disassembled from where it stood over Thomas Creek. The Cascades Forest Resource Council led the effort to move the bridge and reassemble it at Sankey Park about 15 years ago.
In 1997, the CFRC turned possession of the bridge over to the city of Sweet Home so it could be insured.
According to City Council minutes, the bridge was supposed to come with money for maintenance.
Finance Director Pat Gray said she was unable to locate any record of funds transferred to the city.
Martin said he would like to see an annual celebration centered on the bridge, not necessarily for fund-raising purposes, although proceeds could be used for maintenance.
“The more activities you have around the bridge, the less undesirable activity you’ll have around the bridge,” said Martin, referring to problems with loitering and vandalism around the structure.
The alternative to repairing the bridge is to take it down, Martin said.
The bridge was closed to the public in October after the engineering report showed structural problems. If it cannot be repaired, then the city will need to remove it.
As repair efforts move forward, the SHEDG board will release matching funds for expenses to the city.
Present and approving of the contribution to the bridge repair were President Ron Moore, Beth Lambert, Kevin Strong, John Wittwer, Linda Garcia, Lerena Ruby, Herb Heier, Elmer Riemer and Ed Spencer.