By By Sheila Blackmon/The Meridian Star
May 8, 2001
Lauderdale County residents could benefit from more than $206,000 in federal grant money that would be used to upgrade two roads leading to Okatibbee Lake.
Supervisors approved a request by County Engineer Neal Carson to apply for the grant at a regular meeting Monday.
District 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt said he and Carson met with Jack Huntley, operations manager with the Corps of Engineers, who manages Okatibbee Lake.
He said Huntley learned of a similar grant awarded to an Alabama county and began to research available grants for Lauderdale County.
The grant is being offered through the Public Lands Highway Discretionary Program for access roads that lead to federal public lands. The money would be used to resurface Hamrick and Okatibbee Dam roads.
He said Huntley has been asked to serve on a state committee to research available grants locally and prioritize them for the federal government.
Carson said Okatibbee Dam Road is scheduled to be resurfaced this year in the county's road program. Resurfacing it with federal funds would free up taxpayers' money to spend on other roads on the county's list.
Carson said the county's almost $62,500 in matching funds would come from manpower and resurfacing equipment to lay the asphalt.
Hitt said the deadline to apply is mid-June. He said there are no restrictions to applying for the money.
Sheila Blackmon is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call her at 693-1551, ext. 3275, or e-mail her at sblackmon@themeridianstar.com.