To the Editor:

Good and prudent decisions should be made after proper due diligence, data analysis and seeking additional information from experts. 

We do this in our everyday lives. Consider for example that you are diagnosed with a serious health condition. How do you react? Do you meet with a funeral home to begin planning your funeral? Or, do you reach out to other doctors or specialists to determine the validity of the diagnosis?

To suggest that a second opinion will yield no additional information is close-minded. Ferrysburg City Council closed Smith’s Bridge due to potential safety issues. We don't disagree with this decision, but now is the time to do more research and get multiple opinions from bridge experts who can help us diagnose the problems in order to formulate a plan to save Smith’s Bridge.

Our committee is working diligently to bring new ideas to City Council and transparency to the community. We have raised and will continue to raise money to accomplish our goal - to save Smith’s Bridge. 

Funding for these types of infrastructure projects is extremely difficult to secure. Regarding grants, there is a lot of work to do. The current climate for road and bridge funding is extremely competitive. Matching funds must be secured to be eligible or even considered for most grants. Required permits for repair or replacement must be secured before any federal grants can be pursued. 

Even though the City of Ferrysburg and its residents own Smith’s Bridge, the closure and future repair or replacement of the bridge is a regional concern. We are initiating conversations with adjacent municipalities in hopes of solving this problem as a community.

We are looking for anyone in the greater community that can help.

Citizens to Save Smith’s Bridge 

Dan Smith, Ferrysburg