Starting off a hectic day in Washington with a bite at Union Station, Centre County Board of Commissioners Chairman Jon Eich blazed through back-to-back meetings with U.S. senators and congressman Wednesday, asking for funds for the county.
Leaving Bellefonte at about 6:30 a.m. Wednesday morning, Eich made the four-hour drive to Washington, D.C., with Centre County Commissioner Steve Dershem and Centre County Administrator Tim Boyde.
His mission? To procure funding for four different Centre County projects and lobby for continued support of projects that required federal funding last year.
Eich's itinerary follows a typical day in the capital -- he went last year, too -- with the longtime commissioner advocating for the county as he rushed from meeting to meeting. The Centre County representatives met with some of the state's top legislators: Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa, and Arlen Spector, R-Pa; and Congressman Glenn Thompson, R-Pa.
First on Eich's wishlist were improvements to U.S. Route 322. There are a number of dangerous spots between Boalsburg and Potters Mill, he said, and he is requesting $8.7 million for the project.
Also on the list was the county's 911 system. The county is looking for radios that can be used to upgrade the system, totaling $2.1 million, Eich said.
The county is also looking for funding to build a pipe system that would connect the water supplies of neighboring Millheim and Aaronsburg, he said. In cases of drought or fire emergencies, Eich said, this $525,000 system would nearly double the water supply of its separate areas.
Last in line was funding for the development of green programs at the Central Pennsylvania Institute of Science and Technology, Eich said. This project would train county citizens to work in "green collar" jobs, including working with natural gas, wind energy, water and wastewater treatment plants, he said.
Representatives met with a member of Casey's staff for about 30 minutes, Casey spokeswoman Kendra Barkoff said.
"The conversation was stellar," she said, adding they talked about the stimulus and appropriations.
It was a long day, but Eich was unfazed.
All in a day's work for a county commissioner -- a simple "down and back" trip, he said.
