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Pine, 7th road projects get grants |
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Friday, 08 August 2008 |
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Part 1 of 2
By Rusty Nixon
Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — While the plans await Indiana Department of Transportation approval, there will at least be some money for them.
INDOT has awarded Marshall County $2.2 million in Local Public Agency (LPA) Group IV funding. These federal funds, which are administered by INDOT, may be used as reimbursement for the construction phase of two projects — $453,920 was awarded for the Pine Road project and $1,746,080 was awarded for the 7th Road project. This reimbursement funding cannot exceed 80 percent of the total project cost.
“MACOG (Michiana Area Council of Government) helped us get the money,” said Marshall County Commissioner Kevin Overmyer, who is one of the county’s representatives in the organization. “We already had federal funding for Pine Road ($3.2 million). It all comes in handy but we still have to come up with the other 20 percent on both projects, but this helps an awful lot.”
Marshall County is still waiting to hear from Congressman Joe Donnelly’s office on a possible federal grant for the 7th Road project. The county had requested around $750,000 for the project.
Marshall County was one of six municipalities competing for $3.8 million in LPA Group IV funding appropriated this year to the LaPorte District. Group IV is counties, cities or towns with a population under 5,000.
“I would have to say that we are very pleased,” said President of the Marshall County Commissioners Tom Chamberlin. “Of the money available we received over half. We are very pleased with the award.”
Design on the Pine Road project has been completed and awaits final approval from INDOT.
“We were hoping to have that back by the first of August,” said Overmyer. “They’ve indicated they have a backlog of projects to review so there’s a hold up.”
Overmyer does hope that work can begin after the first of the year on the project.
“I think we’re looking at opening bids in the spring and hopefully starting construction in the summer,” said Overmyer. “I really think it will probably take two construction seasons to complete.”
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Last Updated ( Monday, 11 August 2008 )
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