U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., second from left, speaks with Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger , right, and other officials from the county’s 10 municipalities Tuesday at a roundtable discussion at the EPB building in downtown Chattanooga.
Staff photo by Louie Brogdon
The towboat Bearcat pushes barges toward the lock at the Chickamauga Dam.After meeting with local officials Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Chuck Fleischmann faces three main goals: Find a key for Chickamauga’s $693 million lock, keep grant money flowing toward Hamilton County and protect local governments from costly federal regulations.
Fleischmann, R-Tenn., met with elected officials from the county and its 10 municipalities Tuesday at the EPB building in downtown Chattanooga for a roundtable discussion about what locals need from the congressman’s office. Fleischmann plans to have similar meetings this week throughout the Third Congressional District.
High on Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger’s federal wish list is finishing the stalled Chickamauga lock project, which ground to a halt after the last of hte money appropriated was drained.
Fleischmann said Tuesday that for the lock project to reboot, the project’s funding mechanism, the Inland Waterway Trust Fund, needs an overhaul.
Instead of shunting all of money in the fund toward the Olmstead lock on the Ohio River, funds should be dispersed in a more equitable way, he said.