County considers additional funding for Covered Bridge project

St. Joseph County officials appear poised to offer some financial help to benefit an upcoming project related to the Langley Covered Bridge.

Commission chairman Ken Malone said county board members discussed the matter during Tuesday’s executive committee meeting. The committee last month was brought up to date on a considerable undertaking involving the iconic bridge and a funding request by the St. Joseph County Road Commission.

The project is slated to start this summer and cost nearly $3.3 million. Road commission officials said a higher-than-expected cost leaves them about $350,000 short. The county board had previously allocated $250,000 to aid with the cost and will decide Tuesday next week whether to commit even more – possibly as much as $250,000 additionally.

Malone said funding to assist with the project would come from the Michigan Marijuana Regulation Fund. The county received nearly $900,000 from the funding source.