Leflore County District 2 Supervisor Reginald Moore says the county should pursue grant funds for road improvements and related measures that would help reduce traffic injuries and fatalities.
At the supervisors’ meeting Monday, Moore discussed Safe Streets and Roads for All, a $6 billion grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. It is part of the $1.2 trillion infrastructure package that President Joe Biden signed into law in November.
The county needs lights, signs, road striping and other safety features, Moore told the other supervisors as well as Shane Correro, the county’s engineer.
Moore said he’d like to add these features to the routes of the annual Bikes, Blues & Bayous bike ride to prevent any future deaths.
Jim O’Daniel, a civil engineer and cyclist from Clinton, died while participating in the 62-mile ride during 2019’s Bikes, Blues & Bayous. O’Daniel was struck by a Southern Tire pickup truck while crossing the intersection of U.S. 82 and Mississippi 7 in Itta Bena.
Additionally, Moore suggested that lighting can be added along Sunflower Road in Itta Bena leading up to Mississippi Valley State University. District 4 Supervisor Eric Mitchell, who represents Itta Bena, has been wanting to add lights there so pedestrians can walk to MVSU from Itta Bena safely.
Moore said the application process for the Safe Streets and Roads for All program opens in May, and the grant funding goes directly to local governments rather than state agencies.
In other business:
- The board tabled a motion to approve a new contract between Pafford Emergency Medical Services, the county’s ambulance service provider, until next Monday’s board meeting.
In the meantime, the supervisors will review the proposed contract.
The board voted in February 2020 to approve a two-year contract with Pafford to provide ambulance services for Leflore County. Prior to that, the county had contracted with MedStat for ambulance services since 1997.
- Correro told the board that he is still waiting for the delivery of a water pump that will be installed on Riverside Drive.
The board voted late last month to accept a $74,675 bid from Double S., a Grenada-based contractor, for the installation of this water pump. Correro said it should be delivered sometime this week.
- Contact Gerard Edic at 662-581-7239 or gedic@gwcommonwealth.com.
