Pipeline receives $160,000
By Steve Swogetinsky
The Kemper Messenger
The Mississippi Legislature appropriated $160,000 for the completion of a natural gas pipeline from DeKalb to Scooba.
State Sen. Sampson Jackson and Rep. Michael Ted Evans made that announcement this week. The money is coming from a bond issue passed by the Legislature as it adjourned earlier this month.
“This is a big deal for Kemper County,” Jackson said. “We will now be able to provide natural gas to the East Mississippi Community College campus so they won’t be having to use those propane tanks. That will save them some money on that.
“ It is also a plus for our economic development efforts on that side of the county. It adds to our potential.”
A gas district was established for the area several years ago. Until now, they haven’t had the money to do a pipeline.
The 2020 Legislative session was interrupted by the Coronavirus Pandemic. Lawmakers had to break in March and didn’t come back until June.
The Legislature will be going back to Jackson later this month to tie up some loose ends. Gov. Tate Reeves vetoed several bills, including the education appropriation bill. Lawmakers will either have to try and over ride the veto, or they will have to craft a bill the governor will sign.
One big ticket item that will benefit Kemper County concerned broadband internet. Last year, the Legislature passed a bill that would allow the electric power associations to get into the business of providing broadband internet to its customers, if they chose to do it.
This year, the Legislature made money available to the power associations through a grant program for the installation of the cable.
It makes $65 million in CARES (The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act) money available in the Mississippi Electric Cooperative Broadband Grant Program. Participating power associations will match that $65 million which would put $130 million to work across the state, installing fiber cables and establishing board band internet service/
East Mississippi Electric Power Association, which serves Kemper County, has started putting line in the ground the rural parts of Lauderdale and Clarke counties. A spokeswoman said they are looking to start into Kemper County next year.
“That will be a big thing for Kemper County to get that broadband going,” Evans said.
Evans also said the Preston Volunteer Fire Department received a $100,000 appropriation from the state to help with the purchase of a fire truck. He said he also helped get another $100,000 for the Nanih Waiya Volunteer Fire Department to get a new truck.
He added he worked on a prisons reform bill that the governor vetoed.
“I don’t know if we will try to over ride it or not,” Evans said. “We have to go back in a couple of weeks.”
Several legislators tested positive for the Coronavirus after the Legislature went home. Jackson and Evans were not in that number.