By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
Escambia County will soon receive money from the federal stimulus package — and is seeking more.
Escambia County will receive $265,000 from the Alabama Department of Transportation in funding for road and bridges, Commissioner Larry White said Monday.
That’s a far cry from the amount for which the county submitted applications, White said.
ALDOT is distributing $513 million for roads and bridges, and the money the county receives must fund designated projects, White said.
In addition to that money, Sheriff Grover Smith told commissioners Monday that he is applying for several grants through the stimulus project, including a COPS grant that would fund additional personnel; a JAG grant to fund a new way to patch radio frequencies; and another grant that would connect Escambia County with five other agencies in the Florida panhandle and Mobile and Baldwin counties.
The commission gave Chairman David Stokes permission to sign applications for grants, and White said he hopes the county would look for even more chances to apply for stimulus money.
In other business Monday, the commission:
County engineer Bill Bridges said the road is not appropriate for trucks.
Alternatively, trucks could use McCullough Road.
White said the road is the dividing line between districts 3 and 4, and he wanted to place the discussion and decision on the agenda for the next meeting to allow more residents to have time to voice their opinions.