La Paz County officials coordinate response after Aux Board Bridge ends up in river

La Paz County officials told the Board of Supervisors on Aug. 4 that they are coordinating with federal and state agencies after the Aux Board Bridge went into the river over the weekend. County administrator McDowell updated the board and Supervisor Erwin described contacts with federal partners and a planned stakeholder meeting.

County administrator McDowell said the county is “still continuing to work on that” and that staff are setting up meetings with “the stakeholders that are involved in the response efforts.”

Supervisor Erwin said he had contacted the Bureau of Reclamation and that the bureau in turn “have been in contact with the U.S. Coast Guard along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” He also said the Bureau of Land Management is “down there currently, monitoring the situation,” and that buoys had been placed “for public safety” in the area.

Erwin told the board he had contacted state and congressional elected officials and “along with the governor’s office” to make sure “everybody that needs to be aware is aware.” He said he was “hoping to have a stakeholder meeting by Wednesday.”

No formal motion or vote relating to the bridge removal or repairs was made during the meeting. The comments were provided as situational updates and a preview of further coordination; McDowell said she would “give another update as soon as we have more information.”

The discussion indicates county staff and county leadership are pursuing coordination and information-gathering with federal agencies and other stakeholders; the board did not set a timeline for repairs or authorize expenditure during the meeting.