County works to spend every ARPA penny

When the clock strikes midnight and we celebrate the beginning of 2025, more will end than just 2024.

The opportunity to allocate American Rescue Plan Act dollars also will stop. The money must be spent or committed through contract, interlocal agreement or memorandum of understanding before 2025 begins; otherwise, it must be returned to the federal government and the country’s taxpayers.

Commissioner Jeff Plasterer updated Wayne County Council members during their Dec. 4 meeting about the county’s $12,797,195 allocation to help recover from the pandemic. Plasterer told council the county is in good position to not return money.

“We’re making really good progress,” he said. “It’s been a moving target, certainly, but we’re going to make sure we have all of those dollars committed.”

Plasterer and Beth Fields, the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program community coordinator, are closely monitoring ARPA expenditures to ensure the county properly uses and accounts for all of the ARPA money.

Even as the final projects come together, Plasterer said the ARPA projects are expected to cost $306,220 more than the county received. That number could change as final figures, such as bids to install a new courthouse elevator that are due Dec. 18, are received. The county has maintained the flexibility to move ARPA money from project to project and ensure it’s all used to benefit the county.

Some projects, most notably the emergency communications towers, pagers and radios, are costing more than the originally allocated ARPA dollars. That project’s cost ballooned from the allocated $1.5 million to $3,138,295. However, other projects costing less than projected have freed up ARPA money, and the county is delaying other projects and identifying alternative funding sources.

For example, an infrastructure project for market-rate housing and a Wi-Fi project for public parks will be deferred, with economic development income tax money as a possible funding source. Neither project has progressed enough for ARPA money to be properly committed by the end of the year.

The county also spent $1,050,000 of its ARPA money on general fund expenditures because the money would be used by the end of the year. Commissioners and council agreed the money saved in the general fund would be put into a line item that would pay for future projects agreed upon by both boards.

Coroner request

Coroner Brent Meadows asked that council approve money to purchase two lifting systems that lift cots into and out of its vehicles.

The office is equipped with heavy power cots, meaning personnel must sometimes lift 400 pounds or more when handling the cots. Meadows said the Stryker Power Load lifting system removes that strain from his personnel, reducing the opportunity for injuries.

Council member Jeff Cappa, the chief of Reid Health’s police department, said he’s seen the lift system in action and agrees it reduces injuries.

Meadows said he could purchase a new system for $26,834 or a certified pre-owned system for $19,000. Installation for a lift system would cost $1,600.

Council approved enough money for Meadows to purchase two new cots with installation, although commissioners will decide whether the new or pre-owned systems are purchased.

Other actions

• Council approved the hiring of an additional probation officer. The position was previously left vacant for a couple of years but remained in the budget. 
• Rodger Smith, a former council member, was appointed to serve on the Economic Development Corporation of Wayne County board.
• During its finance committee meeting, council approved a variety of year-end budget transfers as department heads and officeholders move money among line items to ensure that each has sufficient funding to finish the year.

Future meetings

Council plans a special meeting for 2 p.m. Dec. 30 to handle a needed appropriation for 2024 that required advertisement and any other year-end issues that arise. The meeting is scheduled before the 3 p.m. swearing-in ceremony for elected county officials.

The first meeting of 2025 will be 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, because the normal Wednesday meeting time is New Year’s Day.