By Billy Davis

With nearly $1 trillion dollars in federal stimulus money expected to flow to the states, the City of Batesville is readying a list of projects that could benefit from its trickle-down share of federal dollars. 

“The message we got is to get ready,” city engineer Blake Mendrop told The Panolian last week.

He was referring to a December informational meeting called by U.S. Rep. Travis Childers, where the congressman delivered an update on pending legislation.

Childers held the meeting in Tupelo, where Batesville Mayor Jerry Autrey recalled at the time that an “overflow crowd” was on hand.

Mendrop attended a similar meeting Friday in Greenwood that was called by U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson. Batesville aldermen Teddy Morrow and Rufus Manley also attended, he said. 

 The $825 billion stimulus plan, currently being debated in the U.S. House, is being touted as a rescue package for the clobbered economy.

The fate of the legislation is unknown, since it faces debate over details, and likelihood that it will improve the economy, among other issues.

Politics aside, hundreds of communities such as Batesville have been told by federal officials to submit “shovel-ready” projects, meaning those that can be started almost immediately.

At Batesville City Hall, Mendrop and engineer Billy Grantham met with the board of mayor and aldermen last week, where the engineers described 24 projects across the city that might benefit.

Eight of the projects relate to wastewater improvements, and another eight are water improvements.

Eight more projects relate to transportation needs.

Mendrop began the meeting by explaining that federal funds will likely reach municipalities and counties as loans and grants from state agencies. He cited as an example the Community Development Block Grant Program, which is administered by the Miss. Development Authority.

Grantham said the projects had been selected and prioritized with input from the city’s gas, water and street departments. Meeting with department heads one more time would mark a last step, he said. 

To show water and sewer projects, Mendrop and Grantham identified the various projects on two maps – one for sewer, another for water. The maps did not mark transportation projects, but the detailed maps still allowed engineers to describe and show various plans.

The sewer projects would include extending lines to the Covenant Crossing development, and upgrading sewer lines to the coming industrial park near the airport. Other projects, if realized, would add lift stations along Highway 35 and extend sewer lines to Hunter’s Trace subdivision.

Grantham said water line upgrades would improve the pressure flow in much of east and north Batesville. He also suggested connecting “dead-end” lines, such as those located between Eureka Road and Woodland, which would improve water pressure to Dogwood Hills.

“It just made sense to loop these lines,” Grantham told the board.  

Mendrop shared with the mayor and board a report from the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) that estimates $9.5 billion has been allocated for wastewater and water projects.

The stimulus bill currently includes $43 billion for transportation needs, according to the ACEC report. 

The transportation projects included street resurfacing; adding a “east connector” from the civic center to Pine Lodge Road; and adding a road from Highway 51 South, site of the future bypass, to Woodland.

“I appreciate this plan because it shows our priorities,” remarked Alderman Bill Dugger.

Autrey and other aldermen seconded that opinion, saying that the list of 24 total projects, regardless of the outcome of federal funding, helps show the city’s plans.

“You’ve listed everything we’ve been talking about for the longest (time),” said Alderman Bobbie Jean Pounders.

The board voted unanimously to endorse the projects suggested by Mendrop and Grantham, and for the engineers to return with an estimated cost of the projects.

The Panolian reported in December that Panola County government, hoping for federal funds, has also readied a list of improvements that includes 19 roads and several bridges.

The longest roads on the county’s list include Sardis Lake Drive, Old Panola, Springport, Curtis, Tocowa, and the remainder of Eureka.