MONTICELLO – Aldermen agreed Tuesday to pump more money into animprovement project to remove solid waste.

Aldermen accepted two separate bids in a combination federal-and state-funded sewer project that includes new lines and pumpingstations.

It was the board’s second attempt at completing a project begunlast year with a $900,000 grant and loan combination. A majority ofthe work, scattered throughout the town, was completed lastyear.

The town’s first attempt to fund wastewater pumping stationimprovements throughout the system and scattered new lines failedwhen bids came in over the amount of funding available, said MayorDavid Nichols.

Aldermen agreed for the town to do some of the work, made othercuts in the amount of work and resubmitted the project tocontractors.

“It comes in the money fine now,” Nichols said. “I still think theprices are high, but they’re going to be the best you can get withconstruction the way it is right now.”

Pumping stations improvements on Fifth Street, Westover Street, OldHighway 27 and Market Street will cost the town $173,828 while moreextensive work, including new sewer lines and manholes, will bedone in Ward One along Robinwood Road, Tommy Jolly Drive, F.E.Sellers Highway and a few other secondary roads for $307,322.

In a related matter, Nichols requested and received approval fromthe board to pursue funds for sewer improvements from theMississippi Rural Development Association.

Nichols said it appears federal funds provided to the agency forHurricane Katrina recovery may be released to more than the coastalcounties, and he will seek to bring some of that money to LawrenceCounty.