Wiscasset selectmen assumed ownership of White’s Island after finalizing an agreement with Maine Coast Heritage Trust Tuesday night.

The vote was 4-1 to accept the island. Chairman Judy Colby cast the dissenting vote, expressing concerns over the railroad crossing.

Selectmen decided taking ownership of the small island outweighed the cost of replacing two footbridges leading to it.

Steve Walker, MCHT regional project manager, told selectmen grant monies were available to help pay for the cost of replacing the bridges.

“We’ll help the town in seeking these funds,” he said, adding the town also had the option of removing the bridges altogether, although he recommended against doing this. Following concerns over their safety, the footbridges were closed by the town in 2011.

During the discussion, Walker said the state had expressed a willingness to renew an easement over the railroad tracks. Colby said she wanted to see this in writing.

A year ago, selectmen learned of MCHT’s interest in buying the privately owned Island in Bradbury Cove. MCHT is a non-profit group with its main office in Topsham. From the outset, MCHT said its intention was to offer the island to the town to be maintained in its natural state and reopened to the public.

MCHT’s offer to the town stipulated the island be kept in its natural state and open to the public for daytime, low-impact recreational use.

The island was part of the estate of the late William Phinney of High Street. MCHT finalized the purchase on Feb. 12 from Donna Burkhardt, Jodi Phinney and Tasha Phinney, heirs of the Phinney estate.

For the time being, the only access to the island will be from the water. The footbridges will remain closed.