POMEROY — Parts of 10 truss-type bridges will be inspected at a cost of $25,000, to ensure they are safe. County Engineer Eugene Triplett told Meigs County Commissioners his office would be responsible for only 20 percent of the cost, and that he was confident the bridges are quite safe for motorists.

He said funds are available through the Federal Highway Administration to inspect the gussett plates on the bridges. The firm Hammondtree and Associates will perform the inspections on seven of the 10 bridges in the county with such construction. Triplett himself will inspect the remaining three.

Triplett said the truss-type bridges to be inspected are the Keno bridge on Bashan Road, and bridges on Rutherford, Folden, Sorden, Scout Camp, Insinger, Titus, Caldwell, Wells, and Point Rock.

He said the inspection work will determine if there is excessive stress on the plates, and analyze the welds and other elements of their construction. He said there have been theories that a truss bridge failure in Minnesota might have been caused by failed gussett plates.

“It really is a chore, but the analysis must be done,” Triplett said, adding he is confident the county’s truss bridges are safe.

Commissioners met with Jean Trussell, their grants administrator, regarding delays in a roof replacement project at the county museum. Commissioners abandoned a bid from Bild-It Group, New Matamoras, because the firm failed to file a contract bond and other necessary paperwork before the 10-day deadline. As a result, the project is behind schedule, Trussell said.

Commissioners awarded a bid of PSI Construction, Pomeroy, in the amount of $21,000. The prior bid award was for $16,894, but Bild-It Group did not comply with bid requirements after the June 23 notice of award.

Commissioners recessed until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, when they will consider approval of bills. Present were President Tom Anderson, Mick Davenport and Michael Bartrum and Clerk Gloria Kloes.