SHOALS — The Martin County Commissioners heard a report on the state of its bridges Tuesday and although they are safe, repairs are needed.

Engineer Leo Rumschlag gave the board the state-mandated report, a process Rumschlag said took two years to do and came in two phases.

“The results are many and varied,” Rumschlag said. “Its no secret there’s some bridges that are not in good shape and there’s a lot of reasons for that.”

To counter, Rumschlag said weight limits on bridges and the fact the bridges are over rural roads help. He further said he found little changes from bridge inspections made two years earlier, except for further weight limits.

Rumschlag gave another report to the commissioners on where to start with bridge repairs. He gave a detailed, $2.6 million total plan to remodel the bridges that needed the most work. He knew that the county could not afford all of those repairs, but said the report is a place where the commissioners could start.

“It’s ridiculous to think you all will do everything that I recommend,” Rumschlag said. “No county can do that.”

Two bridges, near the Martin County Fairgrounds, Bridge 68 and Bridge 59 Rumschlag said needed immediate attention. The commissioners, along with Highway Department Superintendent Darrell Courtright, were working on a contract to repair Bridge 59. Bridge 68 is currently being repaired.

Weight limit and “one lane” signs are already posted, Rumschlag said.

“I think (the bridges) are pretty safe right now, considering they have weight limits on them,” Rumschlag said.

Later in the meeting, Courtright asked the commissioners to let Rumschlag help the highway department work on a plan to repair Bridge 68. Rumschlag is to work with Courtright on the best way to repair the 100-foot bridge and let Highway Department employees do all the work.

“We can’t afford to do anything else on that bridge but considering in two years, are we going to close it?” Courtright said. “We can do something now.”

Rumschlag was contracted for 60 hours of work on the bridge.

In other business

EMERGENCY BUILDING LEASE

The commissioners agreed to sign a 99-year lease for land at the county 4-H grounds to be used for a new emergency building. The 4-H council agreed to the lease earlier in the week but had questions about parking and boundaries. Once those issues are worked out, the commissioners will then sign the lease.