How to get in line for part of a planned federal economic stimulus package was paramount for Amador County supervisors Jan. 13.

By conference call, supervisors picked the brain of the county's man on the ground in Washington, D.C., lobbyist David French.

County staff members have submitted a proposal list, said Jon Hopkins, general services administration director.

"So far, we're focusing on green energy and infrastructure (improvements)," Hopkins said. "We've thrown in a few buildings, such as the jail."

According to Hopkins, a shortfall of some $110 million exists for the proposed project list.

In a 45-minute give and take, French supplied a list of must-do steps for counties seeking part of President-elect Barack Obama's $700 billion jump-start package. For example, French said, a county must stick to "shovel-ready" projects for its proposal list - projects that are 100 percent approved at the local level.

"Projects must be bid within 90 days of congress' signing of the appropriation," French said. "Within 120 days, construction must begin."

French told supervisors that in the U.S. Legislature, "there has been support for rural counties receiving a fair dispensation," with U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena) pushing on behalf of California's rural counties.

Thompson recently announced that, "right now, the federal government invests $500 less per person in rural communities than in urban areas. A stimulus plan that ultimately only funds projects in urban and suburban communities will fail to provide the broad economic benefit congress intends."

French said California county money will be routed for the most part through state departments, such as transportation, and state-administered federal programs, such as the Surface Transportation Improvement Program.

"Be aware something's coming - have your lists in place should money come down the pipe - but the other side of this is I push that the county reach out to Caltrans, because any funds will come through existing formulas, existing programs," he said.

Board Chairman Ted Novelli said he wondered about federal recognition of California's status as largest of the states in population and third-largest in land area. French said it was conceivable California would receive billions of dollars for highways and transit, with rural counties taking upwards of $30 million of that.

"This is driven by population and road mileage," he said.

The next essential, French said, is to concentrate proposals as much as possible in five key areas the federal government is known to favor - highways, airports, "green" projects, wastewater projects and "brownfield" clean-ups.

Larry Peterson, public works director, said he recommended around $45 million in public works projects for assistance.

In addition, Peterson recently told supervisors that the county's Camanche Road project has come in line for $178,000 in financial assistance from California's Proposition 1B funding.