Josephine County staff backs $2,000 match for covered-bridge kiosk upgrade

Rob Brandes, Josephine County public works director, urged the Board of Commissioners to support a $2,000 match request from Friends of Country Living to upgrade an interpretive kiosk and site amenities at a nearby covered bridge.

Brandes told the board the bridge is one of about "50, 51 covered bridges in the state of Oregon," is 105 feet long, and was built in 1920. He said the bridge has a timber structure and a posted weight limit, making maintenance and public awareness important. "About 10 years ago, we had to replace a cracked cord on it to the tune of about $300,000," Brandes said, and he estimated that a full replacement could cost "easily 3 to $4,000,000." He described the $2,000 as being treated as a match for a grant; if the grant is not awarded, nothing would be expended from county funds.

Brandes said the Friends of Country Living group plans to rebuild and modernize the kiosk, repair rock lighting and add solar lighting to make the pull-off and interpretive area more visible and safer for tourists and passersby. He emphasized the small dollar request was intended to increase public awareness and help protect the bridge from vandalism and avoid expensive repairs.

The board asked for clarification that the funds would not be used for structural bridge work; Brandes confirmed the request covers only kiosk and site improvements, not the bridge structure itself. Brandes also said any county contribution would come from public works' state highway funds, which "must be spent on road maintenance and associated activities." The board did not make a motion to approve the $2,000 during the meeting.

Ending: The commissioners did not take formal action on the Friends of Country Living request during the session; Brandes said the group typically leads the project and that the $2,000 would serve as a grant match only if the external funding is secured.