Forsyth County will share in almost $1.5 million in federal earmarks for specific projects, thanks to the help of a federal lobbyist hired by the county in January.
Leslie Mozingo, a lobbyist with The Ferguson Group, said that the county didn't succeed in getting everything she was lobbying for through members of Congress.
But the county will get about $450,000 for a gang-prevention program and $1 million for a law-enforcement firearms-training center. The gang-prevention money will be shared with other agencies, and the training center is a joint project with the city.
The hiring of The Ferguson Group was controversial last January, with two commissioners -- Gloria Whisenhunt and Richard Linville -- voting against it.
Last night, Forsyth commissioners voted 6-1 to rehire The Ferguson Group at the same yearly rate as before, $63,000. Whisenhunt remained opposed but Linville joined with the majority.
The Ferguson Group also lobbies for Winston-Salem. In addition to sharing in the county firearms-training money, the city also received a $487,000 appropriation for improvements to the city's Airport Business Park.
Winston-Salem also pays The Ferguson Group $63,000 a year, and will vote in January on renewing that contract.
Dave Plyler, the chairman of the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners, said that the county is "right on track and right on target," despite failing to get some of the appropriations that commissioners wanted.
"It is a long-term thing," Plyler said. "Some of these projects will take two, three or four years."
With Mozingo's help, the county will resubmit a $900,000 request for library-technology money, and will submit an expanded $2 million request for county parks in general, instead of a $1.6 million appropriation for Tanglewood Park that didn't get financed. Mozingo also plans to try for a $3 million appropriation that would help Smith Reynolds Airport extend a taxiway to property that could be developed with airport access.
Although the lobbyist can help the county with the paperwork, the request has to pass muster with the senator or representative who represents the area where the money will be spent.
In the case of Tanglewood, that's Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-5th, who took a "no earmarks" pledge in 2007. If Foxx had supported the appropriation it would have improved the chances of getting the money, Mozingo said.
Next year's request for general recreation money can go through the office of Rep. Mel Watt, D-12th, who also represents part of Forsyth.
Aaron Groen, a spokesman for Foxx, said that Foxx doesn't support earmarks because "it is an area that is very susceptible for abuse and misuse."
The Ferguson Group will also be working in the coming year on a number of legislative initiatives that could result in federal money for the county.
Those include money for greenways, for Piedmont Triad Research Park, housing, transportation and job development.
Whisenhunt said that the county should bid any proposal for lobbying services rather than give Mozingo an extension. Yesterday, Whisenhunt said the issue was fairness, not whether Mozingo had been productive.
Whisenhunt said she also believes that any lobbying done should be by commissioners in contact with the representatives in Washington.
Commissioner Debra Conrad said that lobbying services shouldn't be bid out for the cheapest rate, but should be determined by who can do the best job.
County manager Dudley Watts said he's satisfied with the results of the lobbying so far.
"I think the environment is right to get some funds for county programs," Watts said.
wyoung@wsjournal.com
727-7369
Federal dollars for Forsyth
County requests for federal help that have been approved:
Gang prevention $450,000
Firearms training center $1 million
Some county requests for future federal help:
County parks $2 million
Library technology $900,000
Smith Reynolds Airport $3 million
Source: Forsyth County. Smith Reynolds Airport is an independent agency operating on county-owned land. Firearms training is a joint project with Winston-Salem.
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