NORWICH - The clock is ticking on getting any federal stimulus money to trickle down for shovel-ready highway projects in Chenango County because the application procedures keep changing.

Department of Pubic Works Director Randy Gibbon complained to lawmakers last week that the rules have changed four times since March 3 when he applied for $1.3 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.

DPW departments in the region and around the state are no doubt having the same concerns about meeting Washington’s mandated, 120-day deadline, he said.

“We submitted our projects as fast as we could, and Albany keeps sending the pages back with changes. They’re still figuring out how to proceed to get your documentation that’s necessary so we can get the federal money,” he said.

The county DPW director said he wasn’t sure where the hold up was. He suggested either the federal highway department, New York’s transportation department or Governor David Paterson’s Special Task Force were the culprits.