Friday, November 09, 2001

The Natchez Democrat

FAYETTE – A funding bill that is expected to pass Congress

soon would include $2.2 million in federal grants to help replace

Jefferson County’s aging water system.

The county would still have to match the money with $1.8 million

of its own funds, according to Sen. Trent Lott’s office.

A conference report on the bill was finished late Tuesday,

and it is expected to be voted on soon by the House and Senate.

&uot;From what I understand, the county’s water system is

degraded that people often have to boil their water,&uot; said

Lott spokesman Lee Youngblood. &uot;Efforts to replace that system

have been ongoing for years.&uot;

&uot;This funding will help to ensure public health (and)

will also enable these communities to provide the enhanced infrastructure

needed to promote new economic development and job creation,&uot;

Lott said in a written statement.

Neither Louis Green Sr. nor E.G. Nations – Jefferson County

Board of Supervisors president and vice president, respectively

– could be reached for comment Thursday afternoon.

The funding will come from the U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency’s State and Tribal Assistance Grant Program and can be

used for water and/or sewer system improvements.

Other areas in Mississippi set to receive water and sewer funding

from the bill also include Ocean Springs, with $3 million; Columbus

and Tupelo, with $900,000 each; Picayune, with $585,000; and Jackson,

with $485,000.