The Bartholomew County Commissioners Monday certified one covered bridge in Bartholomew County to ensure funding for any repairs or maintenance from the state.
The county receives $1,850 annually from the state for the repairs or maintenance.
Although the New Brownsville bridge in Mill Race Park is within the city limits, maintenance and repairs fall under the responsibility of county government.
In June 2018, the county also used $63,000 from the fund to replace shingles on the roof. Later that year in September, there was a fire set under the bridge, leaving some charring on the bridge support.
Bridge certification and maintenance funding was approved by the state budget committee in 2018 in an effort to preserve Indiana history. In a document from the Indiana Historical Bureau, there were four covered bridges in Bartholomew County in 1937, reduced to only one by 1998.
