County road projects meet stimulus criteria

Lamar County has received confirmation that its $11 million in stimulus package road projects meet criteria. The next step is to see if it gets any money. News is expected in May.”This will free up Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax money for other roads,” county administrator told Milner city council at its March 18 meeting.He added the stimulus money will not take the place of Local Assistance Road Paving, which covers small projects each year.Proposed projects are as follows:’¢  Resurfacing: Piedmont, Zebulon, Crawford, Ramah Church, Johnstonville, High Falls Park, Van Buren and Morgan Dairy roads.’¢  Widening: Brent, Yatesville and Liberty Hill roads, with Liberty Hill being leveled at Highway 36.’¢  Bridges and culverts: Piedmont, Ruffner and Ethridge Mill roads. Patterson said the latter had “significant maintenance problems.”’¢  Dirt road upgrades: McCollum, Turner Bridge, Fawn, Freeman, Bottoms and Possum Trot roads.Should money be allotted to Lamar the work would be done over the next several years. The state will prioritize the projects, which will compete with those of other communities.Patterson also discussed the county’s new patching machine, offering to patch some of Milner’s potholes. Crews are currently doing practice patch work on Chappell Mill Road.”We’re all in this together,” he said.