NATCHEZ — The Concordia Parish Police Jury voted Monday to seek $100,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover unexpected costs for a parish drainage project.

Parish Engineer Doug Wimberly of Jordan, Kaiser & Sessions told the jury part of the funding would cover a $32,000 permit review fee required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review the project.

The funds would also cover $62,000 for a third-party review of the project, which Wimberly said was originally projected to cost $50,000.

After learning of the unexpected costs, Wimberly said he consulted with Concordia Parish Drainage Committee member Bill Beasley and Concordia Parish Economic Development Executive Director Heather Malone.

Wimberly said Beasley suggested applying for the funding because with the added costs, the parish has a higher benefit-cost ratio than required.

Police Jury Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Friloux said he has also contacted Congressman Ralph Abraham’s office to look into the permit fee required by Corps of Engineers.

Wimberly told the police jury he believed it is unusual for the Corps to charge the permit review fee.

In other news from the meeting:

Airport Road Extension residents appeared before the board to request action on the gravel road they say is riddled with potholes.

Resident Robert Harveston said he recently spent $900 to repair damage to his wife’s car caused by the road.

Harveston said he has attempted unsuccessfully multiple times to contact Juror Whest Shirley about the problem. Shirley apologized later in the meeting for not being able to connect with Harveston.

Harveston said he also spent $600 and used his personal tractor to try and fill in some of the potholes on the road.

“I don’t get compensated,” he said. “Now, I am asking somebody to fix it.”

Harveston said the road was asphalt years ago, and he recommended the jury overlay the road so problems with the gravel road do not persists.

Harveston and resident Charles Marsaw said they also experience drainage issues on their road.

Marsaw said he recently spent $600 to raise his driveway, and now water has washed away a portion of it.

Residents also said a small alligator recently took up residence near their houses because of the water problems.

The police jury pledged to look into the matter and see what could be done to address the state of the road.

Juror Willie Dunbar has repeatedly brought up drainage issues that constantly plague Concordia Park residents, including himself.

The jury approved a motion from Dunbar to send the area’s sewer district a letter requesting a solution for raw sewage that backs up in the area.

The jury also approved another motion from Dunbar to request the Department of Environmental Quality take a soil sample from the area to test for public health issues due to the drainage issues.