Federal lawmakers told Fairfield County Council members that funding will not be available for construction projects in the coming year.

However, some federal money will be available for computers, according to Council Chairman David Ferguson. The Fairfield County Library should receive some of those funds.

Council Vice Chairman Kamau Marcharia, member Dwayne Perry, County Administrator Phil Hinely and Ferguson attended the National Association of Counties Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. in early March. During the meeting, Council members visited with members of the County’s Congressional delegation or their staffs.

“We had a good meeting with his (Congressman John Spratt’s) folks and we talked about all the proposals that we had brought up,” Ferguson said. “We went over to Sen. Lindsey Graham’s office and talked to him about the same things - the airport, the library and the hospital. We talked with him real vigorously about some water up on 200 and I-77. ...

“Sen. Graham wasn’t real receptive. He talked about some things and told us to move on. He, more or less, wasn’t interested. We talked about small water lines and I?messed around and told him that we had five water companies. He said, ‘Y’all move along. I?don’t mess with folks that can’t help themselves.’”

Graham did tell the Council members that he could help with getting a water tank for Exits 46 and 48.

“He wasn’t hip on anything else we talked about, but I do think we are going to help some help in that regard,” Ferguson said. “We did talk with Sen. (Jim) DeMint’s folks. We did not see him. He was down on the (Senate) floor.”

The War Against Terrorism was frequently mentioned as a reason for the lack of federal funds for local projects.

The Council Chairman said everyone they saw was reminded of the County’s concern about losing federal funds that have been approved for the Fairfield County Airport runway. The construction of the runway addition is being delayed due to a lawsuit.

The Council members took five issues of concern to Washington: infrastructure, health care, substandard housing, Fairfield County Airport Capital Improvement Plan and Fairfield County Library expansion.