County Council Wants More Information Before Supporting Repairs To Menesetung Bridge In Goderich

by Bob Montgomery

The motion before Huron County council was that the county does not approve funding of $300,000 to the Menesetung Bridge Association in any form.

That motion was deferred and it was pointed out that the Menesetung Bridge Association had outlined the repairs that were needed at the bridge and the possibility they might have to do it in two stages, but they did not ask for a specific amount of funding.

Council Jim Ginn said having to do the work in two stages could add as much as 100-thousand dollars to the cost and he suggested the county provide a loan to the Menesetung Bridge Assocation that would give them enough money to do the work in one stage and that loan could be paid back as the Menesetung Association received donations. After much discussion, a motion made by Ginn to invite the Menesetung Bridge Association back to provide more information to council was passed and Ginn says he still supports the idea of a loan.

The original seven-span steel and wood railway bridge was constructed between 1906 and 1907. So Ginn says it's been around a long time and has demonstrated the ability to responsibly raise money as required. He also points out tourism is one of the three economic pillars of Huron County, along with agriculture and manufacturing, and he says the Menesegung Bridge is responsible for bringing a number of those tourists into Huron County. So he believes if the county can provide enough money, through a loan, that allows them to save money by doing the necessary repair work all at one time, that's what they should do.

The decision on the request for funding will be deferred until members of the Menesetung Bridge Association come back and provide more information to county council.