Updates and closures happening at Oakland Mills

MT. PLEASANT — While the Henry County Conservation Department works to make updates to their animal habitat area, they will also shut down the foot bridge right above the dam at Oakland Mills.

“We’re doing a total transformation where our animals are,” said Henry County Conservation Department Director Caleb Waters.

According to Waters, this transformation includes clearing invasive species, such as Red Cedars and Honey suckle, and planting new pine trees and shrubs.

It also includes a new shed to house animal supplies and new gravel laid on the trail.

“Yeah, it looks pretty ugly,” he said. “It’s going to look ugly before it gets better.”

While Waters said the department continues to make improvements throughout Oakland Mills, the hot topic at the latest conservation department meeting was the footbridge.

Waters presented a proposed action plan from the conservation board president to the board of supervisors during his recent update.

“The Henry County Conservation Board recommends that the Henry County Board of Supervisors form and assemble a commission to determine the fate of our historic footbridge at Oakland Mills,” Henry County Conservation Director Caleb Waters read to the board of supervisors at Thursday’s meeting. “The level of work and funding required to make the Oakland Mills bridge safe for the public and maintain is well beyond the capability of the Henry County Conservation Board and staff.”

According to Waters, the conservation board would suggest, if a commission to save the bridge is formed, it consist of a Henry County supervisor and a conservation board member.

Other potential additions to this commission could include individuals from groups like the historical society, Friends of Conservation, and the Henry County Historical Preservation Commission.

Following a thorough inspection of the footbridge, the department learned of many necessary repairs for the bridge.

“We really weren’t surprised, to be honest with you,” Waters told the Henry County Board of Supervisors Thursday morning.

With the inspection, the conservation department received estimates for two options.

The first, which Waters called a band aid to keep the bridge open, would cost approximately $2 million.

The second, which Waters called a full-fledged restoration, would cost over $4 million.

“The Henry County Conservation Board feels this bridge is a liability for the county and thus decided to permanently close the foot bridge until such a time as funding can be secured and to repair and do the work that needs to be completed,” Waters continued.

According to Waters, closing the bridge means barriers, signage, and fencing will keep the public from using the bridge.

“Fencing will keep people from going under the north bands of the bridge given that the whole north end and those bands are in very poor repair,” Waters said.

Currently there are gates across both ends of the bridge to prevent people from travelling across.

“It’s just not safe,” Waters said. “Not only is it a liability for the conservation department but the county as a whole.”

Because the footbridge connects the South Shore and North Shore campgrounds to one another along with Lu Lu’s Dam Grill, Waters says the bridge is well used, but with safety and liability concerns, the board simply cannot keep it open as is.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com