The Marshall Economic Development Corp. is willing to foot half the bill to bring potable water to the Woodlawn Industrial Park. Whether the project will come to fruition, however, is up to the individual industries in the park.

Cliff Todd, MEDCO executive director, said he had already met once with representatives of the five industries at the park north of Marshall and was to meet with them again today.

"We're at kind of a make-or-break right now," said Alan Grantham, chairman of the MEDCO board of directors during that group's meeting Thursday afternoon.

Todd agreed. "If we get participation, we'll move forward," he said. "If we don't get participation, MEDCO may have to withdraw its offer."

Todd added that "some of the industries" in the park have agreed to participate in the program.

Todd, who will be leaving the executive director's post at the end of the month to assume a position with a Marshall industry, has been at the forefront of efforts to bring potable water to the park off U.S. Highway 59.

"Some of these industries have to bring in bottled water for their employees to have drinking water," he told board members recently.

The MEDCO board has been negotiating with Leigh Water Supply Corp. of Karnack on the project, which has an estimated $200,000 price tag.

In other business during the Thursday meeting, board member Keith Purvis reported on the recent I-69 Alliance meeting in Nacogdoches.

Purvis told the board that the Trans-Texas Corridor, a multi-lane, multi-use corridor previously considered, has been abandoned and the plan currently is to follow existing rights-of-way in the construction of Interstate Highway 69, which will traverse the state from the Mexican border to Texarkana.

"An infrastructure study is now under way, looking at ways to circle around cities so the interstate doesn't go through the middle of them," Purvis said.

He said the Texas Department of Transportation also is considering various methods to fund the construction.

"It's still a long-term project," he said.

Grantham added that the decision to follow existing roadways bodes well for Marshall since U.S. 59 is a major component.

"It sounds like the 'where' part is complete and Marshall is pretty much part of it," he said.

Concluding the board meeting, Todd was recognized for his service to MEDCO.

"Cliff's worked hard for us. He's been the face of MEDCO," Grantham said in presenting the outgoing director with mementoes from the board and staff. "I've heard from a number of people who have used MEDCO that Marshall is the place that made them feel like they were most wanted."

Following the meeting a reception in Todd's honor, attended by numerous officials and representatives of business, was held in the conference room.