DailyTrib.com 18 April 2024 ARTICLE;
"Joppa Bridge rehab project revived" by Suzanne Freeman
READ HERE: https://www.dailytrib.com/2024/04/18/joppa-bridge-rehab-project-revived/
• County Leaders met on the bridge June 13, 2024. All are in agreement to move forward this year, sooner rather than later. Hopefully done by Thanksgiving week bridge lighting tradition, Sat Nov 30.
• As of June 19, 2024, the wheels are in motion. Burnet County Leaders and PEC are involved.
• June 20, 2024 The location for the PEC electricity pole has been marked, and PEC has been engaged to install power to the brige for lighting. The County has agreed to pay for the installation and monthly electric utility bill.
• Structural Engineer Site visit and opinion - pending
• July 27, 2024 per Damon Beierle: We are in line for PEC to install the electrical. Don’t have a time frame but it’s in motion. I think going out for bid is the next step. We need a handle on what’s required and a cost associated. I’ll get with Judge Oakley and the Auditor this week and start that process.
• NEXT STEP for County to go out for Bid.
• Aug 28, 2024 - PEC Electric pole was installed today. next will come the Meter Loop, Circuit Boxes.
• NEXT: It was suggested we take a peak under the hood so to speak, and pull back some boards to get a better idea of what the extent of damage is and possibly have some fixes that aren’t so intrusive. - Damon Beierle
•
County Officials involved
• County Judge Oakley
• Damon Beierle, Commissioner Pct 2
• Blair Manning (Tourism Director)
• Karin Smith, Burnet County Auditor
• Burnet County Historical Commission
What is needed to meet a completion goal of late 2024?
Timeline:
1907 to 2019 - Joppa Bridge has been a gathering place, for families, students, friends, picnics, baptisms, weddings, engagements, anniversaries, birthdays, and in recent years, monthly Coffee on the Bridge, Christmas Gatherings, and more.
2016 - Fish Fry Fundraiser for both historic Iron Truss Bridges - Joppa Bridge and Russell Fork Bridge
2017 - Historical Markers are unveiled at Joppa Bridge and Russell Fork Bridge (by BCHC)
2019 - Joppa Bridge is closed by the County for "Structural Damage"
2023 - Dec 9th, County Commissioners Meeting. Two Joppa residents attended and were told that there is no current plan or funding for Joppa Bridge stabilization.
6 Feb 2024 Burnet County HIstorical Commission Board Meeting. Bridge Project is on the Agenda, Rachel Bryson will attend the next County Commissioners meeting to raise the topic.
13 Feb 2024 Burnet Co Commissioners Meeting - the topic of Joppa Bridge restoration status was not discussed at this meeting. BCHC will persue after primary elections
2 April 2024 BCHC Meeting. County Commissioner Damon Beierle was in attendance, and also two residents of Joppa Community. Joppa Bridge restoration was discussed, and Damon reviewed work done in the past. He promised to bring to forefront with the commissioners, and keep us informed.
18 April 2024 ARTICLE in DailyTrib.com; "Joppa Bridge rehab project revived" by Suzanne Freeman https://www.dailytrib.com/2024/04/18/joppa-bridge-rehab-project-revived/
excerpt: " Plans to upgrade the Joppa bridge are back on track, according to Burnet County Precinct 2 Commissioner Damon Beierle. The structure, built in the early 1900s is one of only two iron truss bridges on public property in the county still standing. Beierle spoke about the project during the Burnet County Historical Commission's April meeting.
"We’ve decided we are going to put a committee together with Joppa residents, me, and members of the Historical Commission to get a plan together, " he told dailytrib.com. "Money is the question. We have to go out and ID some funding sources."
9 May 2024 - A handful of Joppa Community Neighbors & friends of Joppa Bridge met to discuss a path toward getting started on forming a Joppa Community association or group. whose purpose will be:
1. To preserve the History of Joppa Community for future generations
2. To have an active community group who provides a social connection to those living in the area.
3. To work with the Burnet County leadership and the Burnet County Historical Commission in maintaining and restoring the historic iron bridges of Burnet County.
4. To be a group who is respectful of it's neighbors, other organizations, churches, etc.
13 June 2024 - 9:00am Meeting at Joppa Bridge was held to consider the needed work to restore the Old Iron Bridge for the community and the county. These representatives attended the meeting
• County Judge Oakley
• Damon Beierle, Commissioner Pct 2
• Blair Manning (Tourism Director)
• Karin Smith, Burnet County Auditor
• Seth Shelburn, Texas Electric Cooperatives
• Terri Burger represented Burnet County Historical Commission
Abt 14 Joppa and Northeast Burnet County Residents were in attendence
Stay tuned for notes from the meeting.
As of June 19, Burnet County Leaders and PEC are involved; planning new electric service
June 20, 2024 - locaiton for PEC electricity pole has been marked; we are in line for PEC install.
More to come ...
The Time is Now - Let's get this done!
We've been talking about Joppa Bridge restoration for FIVE+ YEARS
Two unique and cherished gems of Northeast Burnet County are our HISTORIC IRON TRUSS BRIDGES Joppa Bridge 1907 and Russell Fork Bridge 1911. To our knowledge, they are only two remaining iron truss bridges on Burnet County public land. In order to preserve history today and for future generations, they are worthy of preservation, restoration, and ongoing maintenance.
We are very worried that the stabilization of the Joppa Bridge will continue to take a back seat to other county projects, all of which are worthy projects.
However, in the meantime, our Joppa Bridge will crumble and become less and less stable.
Will we ever again be able to walk, rest, relax, gather on historic Joppa Bridge? Bring our Grandchildren to stand on history? share a coffee, hot cocoa, or ice cream with friends & loved ones on the bridge? in our lifetime?
JOPPA BRIDGE STABILIZATION PROJECT
Since 2019 or earlier, the Burnet County Historical Commision, the Burnet County Commissioners, and residents of Joppa Community have discussed the need for stabilizing Joppa Bridge so that it can again be enjoyed by residents and visitors of Burnet County.
March 6, 2019 post by Damon Beierle - Burnet County Pct 2 Commissioner
“ The historic Joppa Bridge is in need of some TLC. We will be assessing some damage and determining the best way to repair it in the coming weeks. The Burnet County Historical Commission and The Texas Historical Commission are working with us to ensure that repairs meet the standards required because of its historical significance. The damage is not deemed as major but we certainly want to make the effort now to fix it properly. Update coming soon.”
Please contact your County Commissioners - let's get this done this year!
under construction
under construction
Links to Resources, Contacts:
Burnet County Historical Commision (BCHC)
Herman Brown Free LIbrary Resources https://www.hermanbrownlibrary.org/genresoures
BCHC meets every 2nd Tuesday Monthly Meeting. Visitors are welcome to attend as Guests.
Burnet County Commissioners contact info for each is listed down below
https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/commcourt.home
Burnet County Commissioners
Precinct 1 Jim Luther, Jr. commissionerpct1@burnetcountytexas.org
m. 512-715-4112; 512-715-5233
Precinct 2 Damon Beierle dbeierle@burnetcountytexas.org
m. 512-715-2611; o. 512-585-8215
Damon: https://www.burnetcountytexas.org/page/comm.pct2
Damon:
Precinct 3 Billy Wall commissionerpct3@burnetcountytexas.org
m. 512-715-5236; 830-265-0483
Precinct 4 Joe Don Dockery jdockery@burnetcountytexas.org
m. 512-715-5235; 512-715-2911
Copyright © 2024 Joppa Community - All Rights Reserved.
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