T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Monroe County Engineer Amy Zwick, left, discusses the collapsed Knowlton Covered Bridge with commissioners at Monday’s morning meeting. Also pictured, from left, are Commissioners Mick Schumacher and Tim Price.

WOODSFIELD — Monroe County now has a plan to rehabilitate a nearly 200-foot-long covered bridge that collapsed last year.

Monroe County Engineer Amy Zwick informed the Monroe County Board of Commissioners Monday that she has received the plans for reconstruction of the collapsed Knowlton Covered Bridge.

Due to deterioration and poor weather conditions, the 132-year-old bridge collapsed last summer. Prior to the unexpected span failure, commissioners had secured about $900,000 from the Ohio Department of Transportation to repair the bridge.

Unfortunately the bridge fell weeks before renovations could begin.

Zwick said she also requested an assessment and estimated cost of the project from Woolpert Inc., an architecture firm hired by the county. However, the firm has not yet made the information available. Commissioners Carl Davis, Tim Price and Mick Schumacher contacted the firm following the bridge’s collapse in order for the renovation plans to be refined.

“The design of the structure is still not going to allow for any more than the 0.06 kips per square foot. It’s basically for streams only, it won’t be open to traffic even with the new design,” Zwick said.

Once reconstructed, the bridge will remain open to foot traffic only.

Zwick said the plans call for the county to be responsible for road closures once the project gets underway.

“It’s probably just going to be a little bit of signage,” she said.

A timber list was also provided by the firm. Commissioners wanted to know what materials will be needed for the rebuild in order to potentially find the necessary timber locally on county property to aid in reducing the cost.

In other news, commissioners signed another advance of funds to the Monroe County Care Center on Monday. Commissioners advanced the center $47,849.78 for employees’ payroll.

The facility’s sale is still looming, and commissioners said Monday they are unsure what the next step is in the sale process. The county has been attempting to sell the assisted living facility to Bryan Casey, president of Alternative Living Solutions, for nearly eight months.

The sale was set to be finalized following a positive inspection performed by the Ohio Department of Health. The survey was completed with passing marks last month, yet the sale remains unfinished.

“We’ve signed everything on our end,” Price said.

The sale closing date was set for last Friday, but that did not happen, Price said.

Commissioners said they are unsure what the next step is and that they are awaiting word from the lawyers involved in the transaction.