Tensions were high Monday evening at a special city council meeting in Charles City, as council members were faced with a vote on an issue emotionally-charged by generations of fond memories.
Tell us what you want, and we’ll decide — that is essentially the message city officials received from the Federal Emergency Management Agency about funding for the proposed suspension bridge replacement project.
After Charles City’s 102-year-old landmark swinging suspension walking bridge collapsed in this year’s floods, city council members and city staff moved quickly to find a way to restore it.
Once they learned the old bridge could not be salvaged, nor could an identical bridge meeting modern construction requirements be built, they were faced with a decision — what to build in the old bridge’s place.
How a new bridge would be funded was uncertain until the city learned that they would likely qualify for a 90 percent FEMA flood recovery grant, with the State of Iowa matching the remaining 10 percent.
WHKS & Co., an engineering firm hired by the city, developed a proposal highlighting different bridge replacement options.
Councilman Andrew Cerio spoke in favor of so-called option “C,” which was a four-pillar concrete bridge with aesthetics added to give it a suspension bridge appearance.
Throughout the entire process, councilman Kevin Simonson has been a proponent of seeking exceptions from state and federal agencies, allowing a bridge identical to the old one to be built.
“He (Simonson) is counting on somehow getting a waiver or a variance on this that nobody has led us to believe is a possibility at this point,” Mayor Jim Erb said.
City Attorney Ralph Smith said he continues to get the same answer from the U.S. Attorney General’s Office — exceptions to the Americans With Disabilities Act will not be granted in this case.
Going into last night’s meeting, Councilmen Delaine Freeseman and Dean Andrews already knew they wanted to pursue option “D,” which is a cable-stay bridge. A cable-stay bridge was the only version of the project proposed by WHKS & Co. that is a true cable bridge. Estimated at $4.8 million, a cable-stay bridge costs less than a true suspension bridge — $6.8 million.
Andrews and Freeseman believe the cable-stay bridge project is unique and will give the community a new icon.
“We’re not (only) replacing a foot-way across the river,” Andrews said. “We’re replacing a symbol in the community.”
The city council voted 4-1 in favor of pursuing the cable-stay bridge project and funds needed to complete it. Councilman Simonson voted “no.”
Fouad Daoud, president and CEO of WHKS, said his firm will submit the initial proposal to FEMA by Monday, Nov. 3.
“From the tax payers’ standpoint — residents and citizens — it should not cost the residents any money,” Daoud said.
Assuming FEMA approves funding  the bridge project, construction will begin in April 2009 and conclude next fall.
City officials expect to hear an answer from FEMA about one month after the application is submitted.
The proposed bridge will have a number of optional aesthetic elements, and Erb said he plans to get input from members of the community throughout the project.