LAWRENCE COUNTY Officials hire company to fix covered bridge

A Pittsburgh company was hired to handle computer security.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- McConnell's Mill Covered Bridge should be open later this summer.
The wooden structure was damaged earlier this year when a large tree fell on the roof and damaged the cover and bridge structure.
Lawrence County commissioners hired Lone Pine Construction of Bentleyville, Pa., on Tuesday to repair the bridge.
Commissioners bypassed the usual bidding process for work by declaring the bridge repairs an emergency.
Frank B. Taylor Engineering got several estimates for the work and recommended Lone Pine, commissioners said.
County Administrator Charleen Micco said the company will work on a time and materials basis and there is no set amount for the work. County liquid fuel funds, state money from gasoline taxes given to the county for road and bridge projects, will pay for the work.
Commissioner Steve Craig said the company has repaired other covered bridges in the county, including Banks Covered Bridge.
He said they hope to have the bridge repaired and open to traffic this summer.
Computer security
In other business, county commissioners hired Vigilant Minds Inc. of Pittsburgh to work on computer security for the county.
Craig was authorized to meet with the company and develop the scope of work to be done. Craig said he could not go into detail about what will be done because it is a security issue.
He said it's not clear how much they will be paid, but the money will come from the commissioners' contingency fund.
cioffi@vindy.com