MINTO – Town council here has decided not to replace a bridge damaged by both flood and fire and will permanently close a section of White’s Junction Trail near Palmerston.
In a report at the March 19 meeting, Fire Chief/acting CAO Chris Harrow said the section of trail involved has been closed for almost two years, since it was damaged in a major flood in June of 2017.
At the time, council directed staff to work with the town’s insurer to replace the bridge.
While insurance company adjusters were still assessing the flood damage, “a fire was set on the bridge,” Harrow explained.
Although the fire caused further damage, it wasn’t a factor in the claim because the insurer determined the bridge would have to be replaced rather than repaired based on flood damage alone.
Harrow stated the affected portion does not affect the use of the main trail.
“Staff have heard minimal concerns about this portion of the trail being closed. It has overgrown significantly and would take some significant work to make it passable. It does however, when maintained, create a loop for users of the main trail to utilize,” the report states.
The insurance company estimates the cost of replacing the bridge at $135,783. However if opting to replace the bridge the town would be required to cover a $40,000 deductible portion in addition to a $10,000 deductible fee already applied to other municipal claims from the same flood.
Not replacing the bridge would result in a cash payout to the town of about $28,000 after factoring the deductible amount and depreciation of around $68,000, Harrow explained.
Councillor Judy Dirksen asked how much of the cash payout would be used up by the costs of closing the trail.
“We haven’t determined the costs,” said Harrow. “We do have some options on how to remove the bridge that we’re still exploring,” he added.
However, he noted, “I don’t imagine it to be a huge number to remove that bridge, definitely not more than (the $28,000 payout),” he continued.
“If it’s not open to the public, why would we have to do anything?” asked councillor Mark MacKenzie.
Harrow said if the bridge isn’t removed it could eventually fall into the stream and potentially cause flooding to neighbouring properties, “because it would become a dam.”
Councillor Ron Elliott said “it doesn’t’ make sense,” to replace the bridge just to keep open a secondary trail that “goes to the same place.”
Council passed a resolution to accept the cash payout and close the affected section of trail.
In 2017, the town spent $150,000, mostly covered by insurance, to repair a bridge on the main section of the trail.
That bridge was damaged in August of 2016 in a blaze that police and fire officials said was deliberately set.
