County commission considers giving bridge back to Midvale

Washington County commissioners are considering ending an agreement with the city of Midvale that would turn over maintenance of the main bridge over the Weiser River  back to the city.

 The county has been responsible for the bridge under a joint-powers agreement that officials said dates to the 1960s and is no longer applicable. 

 Back then, the county took over maintenance of the old bridge because the city couldn’t afford a new one and also because county residents used it.

 A newer bridge was constructed in 1995, but the maintenance agreement has never been rescinded and still requires the county to fix potholes in the pavement or plow it in the winter. 

 The agreement does contain language that allows either the county or the city of Midvale to terminate it at the request of either party.

 Arlen Wilkins, the county’s road department supervisor, questioned why the county is still maintaining 300 feet of pavement that is entirely withn the city limits of Midvale. The city of Midvale takes care of the road on both sides of the bridge out to Bonner Road.

 Wilkins said maintaining the road surface on the bridge would not cost the city a lot. If there is a problem, the county would step in and offer to help, anyway. 

 “It’s not going to cost them a pile of money to maintain,” Wilkins said.

 In the event of something major happening to the bridge the city of Midvale could get a grant to fix it just as easily as the county to fix it. The county would have to contract out any bridge work just like the city would as well.