Funds for rural roads and bridges and industrial land are on theagenda as Lincoln County supervisors and officials head toWashington today for meetings with members of the state’scongressional delegation.

County officials, along with Chandler Russ from the chamber ofcommerce, will meet Monday with U.S. Sens. Trent Lott and ThadCochran and Tuesday with U.S. 4th Dist. Rep. Ronnie Shows, saidCounty Engineer Carl Ray Furr, who is coordinating the trip.

“We’re going to talk to them about concerns and future fundingneeds the county might have,” said Russ, who visited lawmakersabout a month ago to help lay groundwork for the meetings.

When seeking funding assistance for projects, Furr said it isimportant for local officials to meet face-to-face with theircongressional representatives.

“They need to go. They need to be a part of it and see how thesystem works,” Furr said.

District 3 Nolan Earl Williamson said citizens’ number oneconcern is road and bridge money.

“‘Please get us some money for roads and bridges,'” thesupervisor said, quoting some of his constituents. “That’s whateverybody’s concerned about.”

District 2 Supervisor Bobby J. Watts also expressed a need forroad funding.

“It’s come a time in Lincoln County where there needs to be someemphasis put on roads,” he said.

Watts put the county-wide price tag for road and bridgeimprovements at $8 million — for starters.

“I don’t mind telling them,” Watt said. “That’s what it’d takefor starters.”

Taking supervisors’ concerns, Furr has identified some specificareas and projects where federal lawmakers can be of assistance toLincoln County and other local entities.

Regarding Lincoln County, Furr estimated it was would take about$1 million to replace the county’s 27 deficient bridges. Countyofficials plan to emphasize school buses and safety factors inseeking assistance.

“Most all of them are going to have school buses cross them atsome time,” said Comptroller David Fields, who is representing thecounty along with supervisors, Furr, and County AdministratorTillmon Bishop.

Furr said lawmakers’ influence on a grant to fund a survey for anew industrial park will also be sought. He said more land isneeded as the park is nearing capacity and there is no surroundingland to acquire.

“We’re closed in on all sides,” Furr said.

Assistance with paving a gravel road in the Homochitto NationalForest is another Lincoln County item expected to be discussed.Furr said the estimated $3 million project would pave the roadbetween Highway 550 and the Franklin County line, link with Highway84 and be beneficial as a new recreational lake is developed nearBude and Meadville.

“That’s the real mother lode we’re trying to get accomplished,”Furr said about the forest road.

On less Lincoln County-specific matters, Furr hopes a federalprogram to provides more direct assistance to rural roads can berevamped. Currently, annual funding is distributed to cities withpopulations of 5,000 or more, while more rural areas are noteligible for the funding.

“We want to make counties eligible,” Furr said.

In addition to meeting with lawmakers and their staffs, Furrsaid officials will likely visit some federal agencies that are incontrol of various programs. County officials are not expectingimmediate help, but the meeting will put them on lawmakers’ “radar”and give them pointers on seeking funds.

“We’ll probably come back with some ideas and some ways to goafter some money,” Fields said.

Supervisors flew out of Jackson this morning and are expected toreturn Tuesday evening. Russ, who is in Georgia today on otherbusiness, is expected to join supervisors Sunday.

Several officials’ family members, including District 1Supervisor Cliff Givens’ wife, Williamson’s wife, Bishop’s wife anddaughter, and Fields’ wife and son, are accompanying them on thetrip. Family members’ expenses are being paid by the respectiveofficials, and the county has already been reimbursed.

County officials’ air fare and hotel rooms for four nights at aHoliday Inn near the Capitol is estimated to cost around $4,800.Russ’ trip expenses are being covered by the chamber.

Russ said funding for trips to Washington is money well-spent.He said federal officials need to meet with local officials and bekept informed about about what issues they are facing.

“Pretty much in Washington, the squeaky wheel gets the grease,”Russ said.

Bishop said other counties and municipalities who have gone toWashington have been successful in obtaining funding for theirvarious projects.

“The City of Brookhaven has been a good example of that,” Bishopsaid.

The city received several millions in funds for WhitworthCollege improvements and a proposed intermodal transportationfacility after Mayor Bill Godbold, Alderman John Roberts and Furrtraveled to Washington to meet with federal officials in recentyears.