Government Earmarks Could Bring Capital Improvements
By Nate Kelly, Walton Sun, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
Apr. 12–With a wish list topping out at $119.7 million, U.S. Representative Jeff Miller has earmarked 30 requests for appropriation spending across his district, which includes Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties.
Walton County has projects totaling $10.35 million on Miller’s list. The bulk of the money is designated for the widening of U.S. Highway 331.
Of that amount, $7 million would be used for design and construction purposes in order to expand U.S. 331 to four lanes. According to Miller, the expansion would provide a safer transportation corridor for workers in north Walton who support the tourism industry in south Walton county.
The total cost of the project to expand U.S. 331 is $69,408,000. The Florida DOT has funded the segment from the Choctawhatchee Bay Bridge to State Road 20 at $41,791,000 for right of way acquisition.
In the appropriation request Miller said the 331 bridge and U.S. 331 are parts of the county’s major evacuation route. They have a 30 hour evacuation time, according to Miller.
Besides the funds proposed for U.S. 331, there are three other project proposals for Walton County on Miller’s wish list.
A request for $3 million for a wastewater treatment facility at Mossy Head, is also being proposed. The new facility is going to serve the Mossy Head Industrial Park, Mossy Head Elementary School, residential areas and commercial facilities in the area. It will have a capacity of up to 300,000 gallons of treated wastewater per day with future expansions possible. The total estimated cost of the project is $4,830,000. The facility is a co-op and owned by its members.
Miller is also seeking funding for a mobile health unit to provide greater outreach and preventative care in the county, particularly in the more rural areas. According to Miller’s request, the unit will service primarily the elderly, poor, and those lacking transportation. It will provide family planning, immunization, WIC services, environmental services and emergency operations. The total amount requested is $350,000.
Miller’s request for Okaloosa County is $95.535 million dollars, of which the military would receive $74.45 million.
Santa Rosa County’s request is for $3.01 million, with $3 million going to PD&E to study the widening of State Road 87.
Escambia County is hoping to receive $10.805 million. The money will be divided between the National Flight Academy, UWF, Celebrate Pensacola 450th, Pensacola Team Focus, and Governor Stone’s Schooner program. The Academy may receive $2.855 million and UWF is looking at receiving $6.75 million.
None of the appropriation bills have passed out of committee yet, said Dan McFaul spokesman for Jeff Miller
Jeff Miller is from Okaloosa County.
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