Brookhaven officials are making plans to use over $400,000 inaccumulated federal funds to pave several downtown streets laterthis year.

City Engineer Carl Ray Furr told aldermen during Tuesday’smeeting that the city had accumulated almost $450,000 in federalSurface Transportation Program (STP) funds over the last few years.Furr said the funds, which must be matched by a 20 percent localcontribution, have to be spent within a three-year period and canonly be used on designated streets.

“You have to find a project of need on one of those approvedroutes,” Furr said, adding that the city could lose $150,000 ofthat money if it is not obligated by Sept. 30.

Furr said the funds would be best spent resurfacing downtownstreets. A portion of Brookway Boulevard and striping of IndustrialPark Road could also be done for the estimated $410,000.

Paving of some streets is needed following last year’s Whitworthfire loop project.

“A lot of these streets is where we put the fire loop in,” saidJimmy Furlow, sign and traffic control supervisor.

The city this year budgeted $300,000 for paving. While a portionof that would have to be used as the local match and some to pavenon-designated routes, Furr and Furlow said using the federal fundswould allow the local money to go further.

Industrial Park Road would be striped from city limits to citylimits under the project. Furlow indicated that current stripinghas gradually disappeared.

“The trucks have literally worn that striping out,” Furlowsaid.

Aldermen approved proceeding with paving plans. Officials hadplanned to begin paving in the early summer, but Furlow said usingthe federal funds could push the timetable back by a month to sixweeks.

DOWNTOWN TRAFFIC

City officials also discussed using some of the remainingfederal funds on traffic control devices in downtown.

Citing state transportation traffic count guidelines, Furr saidthe only downtown intersection that would qualify for a replacementtraffic signal is the Cherokee Street and Jackson Streetintersection.

Cherokee Street intersections at South Whitworth, South Railroadand First Street only qualify for four-way stop signs, Furr said.Those three intersections currently have traffic signals, butFurlow said they are becoming obsolete and it is getting moredifficult to find parts for them.

Aldermen took no action on the traffic device plans.

“I’d like to study this a little bit more,” Furlow said.

INDUSTRIAL PARK

Furr also updated board members on several other projects he ishandling for the city.

Furr said a joint city-county meeting was being planned todiscuss development of a new industrial park. An engineering studyhas recommended a site west of the city on 15th and 16th sectionland.

Brookhaven is viewed as one of the most progressive cities insouthwest Mississippi, Furr said, but a lack of availableindustrial land is hindering economic developmentpossibilities.

“When you don’t have much land left to sell, it takes you outquick,” Furr said. “That’s where we are.”

An environmental study in connection with the city’s proposeMulti-Modal Transportation Facility is nearing completion, Furrsaid. The city has received over $4 million in federal funds forthe project and plans for phase one should be finished soon, Furrsaid.

Furr said city property, which would used toward a 20 percentlocal match, at the proposed site on North Railroad Avenue had beenappraised.

However, Furr suggested the board go into executive session ifthey wanted to learn the value. The board did not and moved on toother business.

NEW AIRPORT

In airport-related matters, Furr said two potential sites hadbeen identified as a possible new location for the airport. Afeasibility study, to be completed soon, is studying whether toupgrade and expand the current airport on Heuck’s Retreat Road orbuild a new one elsewhere.

Also, Furr said plans to pave the airport runway are close tobeing finished.

“We’re very close to authorizing advertisement for resurfacingthe runway,” Furr said.