The 100 jobs at the Wildwood Gin near Money will be a bit safer, as are homes and businesses in the area, thanks to a proposed upgrade at the Wildwood Well.
The Leflore County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a grant from the North Central Planning and Development District to see about $350,000 in improvements to the well, pump and access line.
"It's a well for the protection of the Wildwood gin," said Steve Russell, senior planner for the NCPDD. "Those projects are based on creating jobs - expansion and creating new jobs."
The county owns the well, the pump and the line, said Chancery Clerk Sam Abraham.
While the project is intended only for the use and benefit of the gin to preserve the jobs, surrounding homeowners and businesses also will benefit.
Gary Fulgham, county fire coordinator, hopes to put a tanker at the gin, which will provide an extra source of water for fighting fires on that end of the county.
Once that tanker is on site, it'll already be loaded. Then, Fulgham would like to see fire plugs added to the area to help fight fires.
"It will really benefit a whole lot," he said.
It's uncertain when work will begin on the project.
