Lincoln County supervisors Tuesday were unable to award acontract for two District 2 bridge replacement projects due tofunding restrictions related to the end of the current boardterm.

The board elected to take a $292,000 bid from Oddee Smith underadvisement. The bid on the project, to replace bridges on Acy Trailand Sandifer Lane, was the lowest of six received and well under analmost $355,000 engineer’s estimate.

Funding for the project will come from the state’s Local SystemBridge Program (LSBP).

Marty Hilton, state aid road engineer, said the county has beenallocated $868,000 in remaining LSBP funding and advanced credits.However, that amount goes until July 2004, which is six monthsafter the current board term ends.

Taking out the credits for that six-month period leaves thecounty with around $231,000, Hilton said. Citing state regulationsand an attorney’s opinion, Hilton said he could not recommend theboard awarding the contract and obligating funds beyond the currentterm.

“I don’t feel comfortable doing that,” Hilton said.

With engineering and other fees, the total bridge project costwill be around $330,000. Hilton said some other county LSBPprojects are nearing completion and there may be enough leftoverfunding to allow the contract to be awarded.

In other business Tuesday, county officials said they will speakwith Trustmark National Bank representatives regarding financingfor a new Heuck’s Retreat Volunteer Fire Department truck.

Heuck’s Retreat VFD has been approved for a $50,000 state grantto help purchase a new $210,000 truck. The bid on the truck wasabout $30,000 higher than estimated.

In securing a loan, county officials must certify that therewill be funding to pay the notes on the truck.

The difficulty is that the department would have no tax levyrevenue or fire insurance rebate funding left after paying thenote. County departments receive a portion of tax levy revenue andfire insurance rebate funds each year.

“It would take all they have,” said David Fields, countyadministrator.

Jim Craig, Heuck’s Retreat chief, said the department receivesadditional funding in the form of donations from arearesidents.

“The good news is we’ve got the fire station paid for, so wewon’t have that note this year,” Craig said.

An option county officials are considering is reducing yearlynotes to around $15,000 a year over 10 years and then have a”balloon” payment at the end. After grant-related truck ownershipguidelines have been met after 10 years, Craig and county officialssaid they could then try to refinance that payment.

Also Tuesday, Randle King, director of Allied Enterprises, askedsupervisors for assistance in locating work for workers at thefacility on Sawmill Lane. The state facility, which has been inBrookhaven since 1959, provided work force training for handicappedand disabled citizens.

“We’re helping a special group of people who need all the helpthey can get,” King said.

King said Allied Enterprises relies on the business communityfor contract work. The contract jobs typically involvelabor-intensive and manufacturing activity.

“Because of the downturn in the economy, our work situation is alittle on the slim side,” King said.