NATCHEZ — Last week, as most of the Adams County Supervisors were in town taking care of county business, one supervisor was in the nation’s capital taking county business to a whole other level.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell was in Washington D.C. for the National Association of Counties’ Legislative Conference, and in the midst of lectures and meetings Grennell was able to meet with some of the nation’s higher-ups to talk county business.

On Monday, Grennell was able to meet with U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran to discuss several issues pertinent to Adams County.

“I think it was a very productive meeting,” Grennell said. “He was very receptive.”

Grennell said while no formal actions came from the meeting, he was glad to have had the opportunity to make Cochran aware of what’s going on in Adams County.

Grennell said he and Cochran were able to discuss the repair projects at Marblestone Alley and West Stiers Lane, acquisition of federal stimulus money for road repairs in the county and the new Corrections Corporation of America prison.

“Basically he said he’d make some phone calls on the county’s behalf,” Grennell said. “It went well.”

While work on the Marblestone Alley and West Stiers projects isn’t new, Grennell said he was grateful to have had a chance to talk about stimulus funding and the CCA prison.

The county hasn’t gotten any firm commitments on stimulus funding and the prison is currently without prisoners since it has not secured any contracts that would provide inmates.

“Hopefully this can get the ball rolling,” Grennell said.

Supervisor Mike Lazarus said he hopes the county will be able to see positive results from Grennell’s visit.

“It’s always good to have connections,” Lazarus said. “It’s big. It keeps our name at the top of the list when projects come up. It’s very helpful for us.”

And while Grennell was in the capital he was able to do more than just meet with Cochran.

Grennell, who was recently appointed to NACO’s advisory board for the National Center for the Study of Counties, had an opportunity to meet with his fellow board members for the first time.

Grennell is one of only two supervisors across the county that was appointed to the board.

In his new capacity on the national board, Grennell will help to develop surveys covering a wide range of topics that impact supervisors and their county’s.

And information from those surveys will eventually be given to the White House for review.

“It’s going to have a great benefit for Adams County and counties all over,” he said.