By Jennifer Jacob Brown
jjacob@themeridianstar.com
Since President Obama's inauguration, television, the internet, and print publications across America have been filled with news and talk about one thing - Stimulus, stimulus, stimulus.
In Meridian and Lauderdale County, local governments are keeping their ears to the ground in hopes of finding out when federal stimulus money will be coming their way.
The questions of how much stimulus Meridian and Lauderdale County will get, when they will get it, and what it will be used for have remain largely unanswered. The only exception is in regard to stimulus funds that will be distributed through the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
MDOT will distribute about $24 million in federal stimulus funds to small urban areas in Mississippi, according to a letter from MDOT addressed to Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith. The letter stated that the City of Meridian will receive $1,434, 282 of that funding. The funds promised to Meridian will be in addition to normal MDOT funding. If the funds are not used quickly enough, they will be re-appropriated.
MDOT provided the City of Meridian with a list of what they called "potential projects for economic recovery package," which include bridge repairs and renovations, street resurfacing, and other road and bridge upgrades. MDOT has not promised to fully fund all of the projects on the list, the total
MDOT stimulus projects
The following city projects are being considered for stimulus funds that will be distributed through the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
24 traffic signal upgrades in downtown Meridian
Renovation of 22nd Ave. bridge
Street resurfacing
Repair of 29th Ave. bridge
Repair of 26th Ave. viaduct
Widening of North Hills Street
(Source: City of Meridian):
Lauderdale County
Lauderdale County's ready to go project wish list: These are the projects at the top of the county's wish list for stimulus funds that were presented to Mississippi's federal delegation. (Source: Dist. 3 Supervisor Craig Hitt)
Interchange at I-20/59 Industrial Park
Widening of Hwy. 493 from Meridian to Bailey
Widening Hwy. 19 N. from Meridian to Philadelphia to four lanes
Relocation of airport taxiway
City of Meridian Wish List
These are shovel ready projects submitted by the City of Meridian to the U.S. Conference of Mayors. (Sources: stimuluswatch.org, City of Meridian)
Industrial road from I-20/59 to Hwy. 19
Street overlay
Street resurfacing
Industrial road from I-20/59
North Hills St. widening
Street drainage rehab downtown
Replace 31st Ave. bridge over Sowashee Creek
Repair retaining wall for 33rd Ave.
Sewer to annexed area
wastewater plant rehab
Water lines to annexed area
Rehab work at wastewater treatment plant
2 new water wells
Repair Long Creek dam
Rehab work at water plant
Lines rehab in waste water
Replace water lines
Additional treatment at water plant
Back-up generator at water plant
Valve truck and crew for valve maintenance
Complete Taxiway "A" relocation
Extension of Taxiway "A" relocation
Drainage improvements--maintenance, wildlife
Construct hangar access road
Kress Building new museum and exhibits
Sewage treatment plant for east Meridian
City Hall Green
26th Ave. subway renovations
Hospital District implementation
Carnegie Library restoration
Traffic light repair/replacement for fuel efficiency
22nd Ave. Overpass renovations
Demolition--old parking garage
Redline Community drainage project
Demolition--6th, 7th sts. from 22nd to 25th aves.
Demolition--Ragsdale Block 86 for new PD
Demolition--Trustmark Bank & surroundings
Downtown storm water management system
Demolition--lease spaces in parking garage
Demolition--Doughboy Monument surroundings
Energy retrofit City Hall
Energy retrofit Threefoot building
Recycling facility
Energy retrofit 35 public buildings
Solar power systems at 3 fire stations
Public housing renovations and repairs, all sites
Security lighting throughout 9 sites
Pot hole repair, street resurfacing
Erosion, sink hole repairs throughout sites
Reconfigure central maintenance facility
Property entrance signs with landscaping
Replace security doors at senior sites for safety
Repair buckling sidewalks throughout sites
Repair playground equipment for safety
Construct gazebo for senior citizens
Reconfigure community center for police precinct
Mobile data terminals in 50 patrol vehicles
8 new officers through COPS for drug/gang detail
Local News
City, county await news on stimulus funds
MDOT first to release info on fund distribution
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