County forgoes bridge rebuild

On Tuesday (Oct. 22), the Butte County Board of Supervisors affirmed that rebuilding the Honey Run Covered Bridge, which was destroyed in the Camp Fire, is not in the county’s best interest. The decision sets the stage for the Public Works Department to request Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding for an alternate project.

Public Works Director Dennis Schmidt told the board that the Honey Run Covered Bridge Association, led by Robert Catalano (pictured), has been pursuing plans to rebuild and take ownership of the bridge using private funds.

Schmidt said the county would be better served using FEMA money—about $5 million—to purchase equipment that would aid the restoration of roads damaged by Camp Fire cleanup.