Counties have plans for stimulus money
Published: February 9, 2009
Three central Virginia localities are preparing a list of projects they would like to see built with some of the billions from President Barack Obama's economic-stimulus package.
Amelia County: It is completing the engineering and drafting requests for proposals "so that they are ready to bid if and when the time comes," county Administrator Thomas E. Harris said. "And as soon as we see the criteria, we will draw down those projects and submit."
Officials believe that the intent and language in the bill requires all eligible projects to be "shovel ready" and can begin "within a very short time span," Harris said.
Cumberland County: The Board of Supervisors has prepared a lengthy list of projects for Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, to shepherd through Congress, including the renovation of the community center and improvements to the school system's athletic facilities, board Chairman William F. Osl Jr. said.
"We covered the waterfront," he said.
Powhatan County: It is so serious about taking advantage of the money that the Board of Supervisors created a "swat team" that includes county Administrator Carolyn Cios, Economic Development Director Sherry Swinson, a member of the Planning Commission and two members of the Board of Supervisors to flesh out development of the projects and their cost.
The county's list of 10 projects -- broken into two tiers, those that are ready and those that are on the drawing board and could be accelerated with available funding -- will be presented to Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, this month.
The county wants to be ready because federal officials will be "looking for low-hanging fruit" that can quickly be gotten to and show action is being taken, Supervisor Carson Tucker said.
Board Chairman Robert Cosby said localities will be lining up to take advantage of the federal funds.
"We just need to be ready," he said.
Contact Jamie C. Ruff at (434) 223-3678 or
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Reader Reactions
All this talk about what to do with the money from the Stimulus when Rep. Eric Cantor voted against the bill. Just think if President Obama hadn’t worked so hard to help the taxpayers this discussion wouldn’t be taken place. The good news is as of Jan. 20th Obama stopped the 2 billion dollar a day from going to Iraq. Yes while Americans were worrying about jobs, homes and life savings the Bush Administration has been giving Iraq 2 billion taxpayers dollar a day for 6 years. Iraq now has a 80 + billion surplus and a stronge Stock Maket. Who knows many we could borrow so money from Iraq in the future. Yes we spent over 1 tillion dollars for the invasion but President Bush publicly said in the United Nations that Iraq would never have to pay the US back that money. It’s good to be a friend of the Bush Administration they had money to give away.
“a lengthy list of projects for Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, to shepherd through Congress”
Sounds like an EARMARK to me. Will they never learn?
Does anyone at the TD have a clue how many times this forum crashes with a Page Not Found error?
OK you county folks, the bill’s not a done deal and in all probability will change dramatically before being signed.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!
Instead of thinking of ways to SPEND the money, how about using this for salaries to pay people, instead of layoffs!
If that’s not possible, how about using the money for crumbling buildings, fixing leaking roofs, and general maintenance rather than brand new projects which are on the “wish list” which is a waste of money, regardless of the economic situation.
You need to set priorities!
You got it, hjackson… gimme gimme gimme. But when the government says, “You boys need cash—NO PROBLEMO!!! We’re handing it out!“ then every group would be dumb not to belly up to the bar. If one guy is getting free money, why not me! Don’t blame the locals—blame Congress and Obama.
Good grief they are like a bunch of homeless beggers on the street corner. Don’t they realize this is hard earned money extracted from taxpayers? Could they not find a better use instead of their pet pork projects that normally would not see the light of day? When funding for education, public safety and health are being cut there is no room for pork such as this.
These projects do not provide jobs for the long run. They are good for their contractor buddies that must be providing campaign donations to them.
Frozen wages, layoffs and reduced benefits are trumped by community centers and athletic facilities. In other places they don’t have any idea what they want money for, but they have a ‘swat team’ to cash in…. Things matter more than people
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