Madison County to receive $543,000 for local roads

The state government has changed its method for allocating money for local roads.

BOC chairman Anthony Dove reported Monday that Madison County will receive a $543,713 grant for 2013 through the Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant (LMIG). That money will go straight to the county with no Department of Transportation involvement.

“No longer will the DOT do the letting of the paved roads,” he said.

Dove noted that the grant comes with a required 30 percent matching commitment from the Madison County government. But the county can cover that cost through “in-kind” labor, su ch as engineering and grading work, he said.

The chairman asked each district commissioner to offer road improvement ideas at the board’s next meeting Oct. 8. He noted that the long-awaited turn lanes at the Hwy. 29-98 intersection could be addressed with LMIG funds. Local leaders are pushing to make this project happen, though no specific plans have been approved.

Dove reported that he met with Sen. Frank Ginn and Danielsville mayor Todd Higdon recently to discuss the project.

In other matters, Dove reported that 352 Madison County students received school supplies through the Madison Area Resource Team (M.A.R.T.) The board agreed to allow 9-1-1 director David Camp to seek prices on new radio consoles for his department, an expense that will be covered through sales tax revenue.