Parke County Commissioners tackle Bille Creek Village Covered Bridges

The Commissioners voted 3-0 in favor of having both Leatherwood and Beeson covered bridges come back to Parke County should they be offered by Billie Creek Village. 

With one fell swoop, two bridges that have been in complete disrepair at Billie Creek Village will get new life, following the actions of the Parke County Commissioners Monday evening. 

The Commissioners voted 3-0 in favor of having both Leatherwood and Beeson covered bridges come back to Parke County should they be offered by Billie Creek Village. 

The wording of the motion was the result of some questions pertaining to deeds and how the bridges shifted hands in the past by county attorney Nick Sauter. Sauter asked Commissioner Jim Meece how the bridges changed hands. 

"I don't know if there are deeds," Meece said when Sauter said the commissioners would need them. 

Sauter asked what steps were taken to transfer the bridges and Meece said it was as simple as saying Beeson Bridge and Leatherwood Bridge are now owned by Parke County Incorporated. 

"I don't have any recollection on that. I don't know if they had a deed and transfer of property other than just saying they are yours. I can see that happening just as easy. If those bridges are being offered, I would make a motion that we would accept them," Meece said. 

Sauter said he would do whatever it took to get it done. 

Meece said the agenda item was one he was looking forward to for almost 20 years. 

Meece said the future of the bridges came about following a recent discussion with officials from Billie Creek Village. The commissioner said Billie Creek Village officials wanted to work on the bridges themselves and there was a discussion about the county's desire to work on the bridges, but could not due to the fact the bridges are on private property owned by Billie Creek Village. 

Meece said the Putnam County Commissioners previously gave the two bridges to Parke County Incorporated and Billie Creek Village. When the two entities split, Parke County Incorporated gave the two bridges to Billie Creek Village. 

"We can't spend county tax dollars on the bridge, but we always wanted offered to take those back. We wanted to make sure they were protected and taken care of. We had a discussion and came to an agreement," Meece said.

The "agreement" states the two bridges would come back to Parke County and be added to the county's inventory of bridges and dollars would be used to make upgrades. 

"The bridges would be allowed to stay where they are in perpetuity in Billie Creek Village. We would be given access to ingress or egress to make repairs and maintenance. They would remain under the control of Billie Creek Village in that if people wanted to have a wedding on them, they wouldn't contact the county, but would contact Billie Creek Village. Any maintenance we had to do would be on a schedule with Billie Creek Village and would not interfere with them as well. The county would maintain and preserve those bridges as we do all the others," Meece said. 

Meece said with the commissioners taking over the maintenance and upkeep of the bridges, they will be saved for future generations. 

"They will stay where they are and will be taken care of. We can assure future generations will be taken care of," Meece said. 

In addition, Michelle Mundo, of Billie Creek Village, told those in attendance The Gaebler Cafe is now open. 

"We are seeing good success with that right now," Mundo said. 

The cafe is open daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the Billie Creek Village will be open this season daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.