NATCHEZ — Adams County has until March 31 to complete a long-in-the-works hazardous mitigation project if the county is to see any federal reimbursement for the undertaking.

The reimbursements are tied into the process of hooking up generators at emergency shelters across the county.

Based on bids that the board of supervisors previously rejected, the hook-up project would cost approximately $200,000 upfront, but after reimbursements the county would only be out approximately $25,000, Adams County Civil Defense Director Stan Owens said.

The generator project began in 2007 under former Civil Defense Director George Souderes. Its intentions were simple — have an electrical generator available at Adams County’s Red Cross certified shelters so that, in the event of a hurricane or other disaster that could knock out power, the facilities would still have electricity. The shelters are located at Community Chapel Church, Parkway Baptist Church and the Steckler Building.

The county has already purchased and received reimbursement for the generators, County Administrator Joe Murray said.

The problem is that the deadline to finish the project — in this case, the hookups — is drawing close. If it doesn’t meet the deadline, the hookup project won’t receive the FEMA funds.

“We don’t want to get in a situation where we have to pay 100 percent for the hookup,” Murray said. “The estimates we have gotten from the different contractors have been very costly.”

The hookup project should take approximately two weeks, Owens said, and to expedite the process Tuesday the board of supervisors voted to open a two-week advertising period for project bids.

Owens said he believes that even if the project is not fully completed at the deadline, “If we turn dirt on this, I am sure they will extend (the deadline).”

Civil Defense has $100,000 in its budget for the generator project, and the county would have to kick in the difference depending on the final bids for the project.

The county rejected the previous bids in June 2011 because of a lack of funds. Those bids totaled $199,890.

Originally, the grant included two “quick connect” hookups, but Owens said he applied for a scope of work change on the grant so the county could purchase full transfer switches and other associated hardware for the shelter sites.

The City of Natchez will match some funds for the project because of an inter-local agreement, Owens said.

The original grant included five generators, two of which were allocated to Natchez Water Works. The city paid for its own hookups and the generators were installed at the St. Catherine water plant and at the lift station on Silver Street.