Lincoln County officials say funding chances for a nationalforest road project are better and groundwork for other activityhas been laid following last month’s trip to Washington to meetwith state congressional representatives.

Board of Supervisors President Nolan Earl Williamson, District 5Supervisor Gary Walker, Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop and CountyEngineer Carl Ray Furr visited with the staffs of Reps. RonnieShows and Chip Pickering and Sens. Thad Cochran and Trent Lottduring a three-day trip in late March. On county officials’ agendawere funding for improvements to a road through the HomochittoNational Forest, government complex renovations and help with aBogue Chitto community center.

The forest road is a $2 million project that would link Highway550 with Highway 84. County officials unsuccessfully pitched theproject during a Washington trip last year, but they said fundingchances looked good this year.

“We’re at the top of the list,” Bishop said. “We were numberthree on the list last year and didn’t make the cut.”

Bishop said the road currently exists, with about half inFranklin County and half in Lincoln County. He added that theFranklin County portion is fairly straight and has been paved foryears.

“The Lincoln County side has never been paved and it’s a verynarrow and crooked road,” Bishop said.

The project involves paving and straightening out theapproximately six-mile section of road in Lincoln County. Bishopand Williamson touted the new road’s impact on improving access toa recreational lake under construction in Franklin County.

“It’ll help us in the future with the new lake over there,”Williamson said, adding that it would be an asset for Copiah Countyaccess as well.

Bishop said federal dollars are annually earmarked for use onroads in national forests. While he and Williamson alluded tonon-forest roads in need of improvements, they said the Homochittoroad is a way to take advantage of the special forest funds.

“This is a prime project for this type of funding,” Bishopsaid.

Funding assistance for two other projects may be a year or moreaway, county officials said. They are also seeking Housing andUrban Development funds for renovations to the governmentcomplex.

“That includes some exterior and interior work and a new roof,”Bishop said. “The major emphasis will be a new roof.”

Bishop said officials are contacting the United StatesDepartment of Agriculture’s state Rural Development office andDirector Nick Walters to see what funding avenues are availablethere. He said Engineering Associates is working up exteriorrenovation plans.

Cost estimates were not available, but Williamson speculated anew curved roof could be in the $450,000 to $475,000 range. He alsomentioned needed interior work.

“The air conditioning and heating units all need to bereplaced,” Williamson said.

County officials would also like to help Bogue Chitto residentswith their community center efforts. Bishop and Williamson saidthey would like assistance in developing a parking area, restrooms,concession area and drainage for a ball field, but any federal helpwith that would likely be fiscal year 2004 or later.

Bishop said the county wants to have two or three projects ayear in the works. He said the trips to meet congressionalofficials are worthwhile and can be beneficial, as evidenced by thecity’s success in securing funds for its various projects.

“You’ve got to go tell what’s going on in your community andwhat your needs are,” Bishop said. “We feel like it’s somethingthat’s going to pay off.”