The Marshall County Council was presented with a joint resolution with the commissioners Monday morning that that would put a plan into place to spend $8.9 million in federal American Rescue Plan funds.
The commissioners approved the joint resolution last week.
Auditor Julie Fox stated that the resolution simply states that the county has a plan in place on how to spend the funds, but the resolution does not include specific projects or specific obligated funds. Such a resolution that includes plan for the funds needed to be passed by both the council and the commissioners by April 30 in order to be in compliance with federal guidelines associated with the funds.
Funds have to be obligated by December 31, 2024 and it has to be spent by December 31, 2026.
The county has received half of the expected $8.9 million and the other half is anticipated to be receipted to the county yet this year.
The council members approved the plan with a unanimous vote.
There were comments made about what the commissioners have discussed in a preliminary expenditure plan which included costs for broadband, funds for the highway department, the Regional Sewer District, the clock tower, and lost revenue for not-for-profit organizations. The commissioners have the jurisdiction to create the plan with the council to consider appropriating funds for the proposed projects.
Councilman Tim Harman asked about the $1 million mentioned to help with broadband in the county. Councilman Heath Thornton, who was on a committee with Councilman Steve Harper and Councilman Jesse Bohannon to discuss projects to fund with ARPA funding, said the companies would extend infrastructure to remote areas that were not already in broadband plans. Councilwoman Mandy Campbell pointed out the need for broadband so children can have access to the internet for schoolwork.
He thought that $6 million should be appropriated to the highway department to fix roads.
Bohannon said that he thought the plans should focus on lost revenue and funding for roads.
Two frustrated residents spoke out during the council meeting stating that the funding should be used toward roads. The council thanked them for the comments, but directed them to speak to the commissioners who are in charge of putting together the plan.
