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Council considers reserve fund to help six homeowners with bridge-related access costs
Summary
A councilor proposed a dedicated reserve account to subsidize occasional heavy-load transport for six homes cut off from standard truck access; staff will seek legal guidance on whether such an account is permissible and how to limit use.
During discussion of the Manning Mill Bridge, Councilor (S6) proposed creating a dedicated reserve account so the six homeowners on the bridge's far side could draw funds for limited specific uses (for example, a one-time remodeling delivery), instead of the town spending roughly $1 million to replace the bridge decking.
"Have we considered the idea of a resident account established for clearly unlimited specific purposes, like house remodeling once in 10 years ... and we pay the difference?" Councilor (S6) asked. Staff cautioned the approach carries legal and precedent risks and said the town would seek counsel to define parameters.
Public commenter Linda Ballantcourt (S11) responded that a capped reserve would not cover major needs such as timber harvests and that repeated trips for renovations could quickly deplete funds. "If you did a reserve account ... that wouldn't solve the problem if they were doing tree harvest," she said.
Council direction: staff agreed to consult the town attorney about whether a reserve account could be established, how to cap it, and what administrative safeguards would be required. The council voiced interest in investigating the idea as a potentially more affordable interim remedy while staff pursues funding for more substantial repairs.
