Staff writer
The cost of Washington County government and the $526,762 deficit in the 2008 preliminary budget came under scrutiny Monday as a series of hearings opened with news that the state has changed its formula to pay for bridge replacement.
Because a number of Washington County's 135 bridges have been classified as "distressed," the county is eligible for 100 percent reimbursement of bridge construction costs. Previously, the county paid a share of construction, with the state picking up most of the construction costs. The only exception previously was for covered bridges, which, under state law, are considered "historical structures."
Lisa Cessna, Washington County planning director whose department oversees county bridges, said she learned of the change just last week when she received a reimbursement agreement from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.
Although the formula has changed, the county will receive about $600,000, only slightly more than last year, from the state.
After a highly publicized bridge collapse in Minneapolis, commission Co-Chairman Bracken Burns noted that Washington County has 113 bridges in use, and many of them have sufficiency ratings of less than 50.
Based on information from the county planning department, sufficiency ratings of 49 or less mean the bridge is eligible for replacement.
In Washington County, 43.4 percent of the bridges are eligible for replacement. The number of functioning bridges does not include eight closed because they can no longer support the weight of vehicles.
In another transportation-related matter that cropped up during the hearings on the county's $58 million general fund budget, the county airport is losing revenue from fuel sales during the airport closure for runway widening. Nor is it charging tenants rent for the closure period.
Widening the 75-foot runway to accommodate larger planes is expected to be finished by Sunday. The $2 million project is on schedule and within budget, said Cessna, whose department oversees the operation of the airport.
"We should be reopening in another week or so," said Ken Krupa, airport manager. "Fuel sales will go back up."
Cessna said the installation of a fence around the airport has been moved from 2009 to 2008.
The airport has been plagued with deer and bird problems, and the commissioners have contracted with U.S. Department of Agriculture hunters to kill offending animals.
Scott Fergus, county director of administration, said welded or woven wire fence used specifically to deter animals from entering the 265-acre airport could cost $200,000, about $600,000 less than a 10-foot chain-link fence topped by two strands of barbed wire.
Krupa said the Transportation Security Administration does not require security fences for general aviation airports like Washington County.