Legislature earmarks $1 million to repair lagoon

Legislature earmarks $1 million to repair lagoon

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Local legislators have been able to secure $1 million in state bond monies to repair a city sewage lagoon.

Several other initiatives earmarked for Philadelphia, Neshoba County, and the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, were passed during the 2021 session of the Mississippi Legislature that wrapped up last week.

State Sen. Jenifer Branning, and Rep. Scott Bounds, both Republicans from Philadelphia, said they were able to address a number of local needs.

“We were able to secure $1 million in bond money for repairs to Philadelphia Utilities’ sewage lagoon,” Branning said. 

“And Neshoba County will receive $500,000 from the state for a bridge repair on County Road 210. Both were specific requests.”

The bridge project is expected to cost the county $1.8 million. It spans an abandoned Kansas City Southern Railroad line. And while the line is closed, the new bridge must still meet specifications set for an active railroad line.

“This will help the county,” Bounds said. “It won’t fix the problem, but they can take the money, put it with other money, and use it as matching funds when applying for programs and grants.”

Bounds added that $30,000 in state funds will go to the Neshoba County sheriff’s department to purchase a new digital fingerprinting machine.

“Apparently, the department has needed this for a while,” Bounds said. “But we just found out about it last year. This was something Sheriff Eric Clark said we definitely needed.”

Branning said $500,000 will be coming for repairs and widening work on Highway 16 west. “It will be up to MDOT to decide where the greatest need is,” Branning said.






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