Article submitted by Jamie Fleury, The Pilot News Staff Writer
The Marshall County Council tabled the $7,900,000 American Rescue Plan (ARP) budget previously approved by the Marshall County Commissioners 3-0; Kevin Overmyer, Stan Klotz, and Michael Burroughs. The council wants the commissioners to review and clarify their plan before sending it back to the council for approval.
During the council meeting Monday morning, Councilman Jesse Bohannon asked for clarification on who was making the request to approve the ARP budget. Marshall County Auditor Julie Fox confirmed that the request was sent by the commissioners.
Bohannon reported that after listening to that meeting he was not under the impression that the council would be required to vote on those numbers. He then objected to voting on the ARP appropriations due to conversation during that meeting that those numbers would not need to be voted on without additional debate.
Councilman Jim Masterson addressed a need for clarification. The minutes from the April meetings were reviewed confirming that all three commissioners did approve the budget. Councilman Jon VanVactor confirmed that the approval in support of the ARP appropriations was included in the minutes from April 4th. Those minutes were presented to the commissioners during their meeting on April 18th and were approved as written by all three commissioners.
Bohannon cautioned the commissioners to avoid verbal assurances and be concerned with what is officially documented on paper. When he listened to the recording of that meeting he was under the impression that the ARP appropriations were still discussable and was not prepared to vote Monday morning. “I don’t think this has been transparent.”
Masterson said, “This is the commissioners plan so they need to clarify that to us.” Bohannon agreed. “Right.”
The plan allocated $300,000 to an unspecified non-profit organization, $2M for clean water: other sewer infrastructure, $1M for broadband, $1M for highway materials, $1M for highway professional services, $1M for highway equipment and $100,000 for administrative expenses.
Auditor Fox clarified that the numbers can be reallocated if the commissioners chose.
VanVactor made a motion that the ARP be tabled and sent back to the commissioners. Bohannon seconded that motion.
Masterson said, “I think we also need to see that what we have received versus what we have coming to us, that we don’t appropriate more than what we actually have our hands on.”
Member Heath Thornton agreed. “I’m not super comfortable appropriating something that we don’t actually have yet.”
Auditor Fox confirmed that the Federal Government has indicated that emails would be coming to counties on the second disbursement. Marshall County has not received that yet. She informed the council that tabling it sets it down another month.
Member Mandy Campbell asked for clarification on when the appropriations had to be made in order to keep the funding. Fox said that approving the appropriations weren’t an issue as much as accepting the funding. “If you aren’t going to appropriate the funding or agree on a plan, then there is no reason to request the additional funding because otherwise the auditor would be sending back the money in order to comply with the Federal Government.” She validated that rules keep changing for auditors to continue to receive the funding or accept the funding, but at this point determining exactly how the money will be spent is not a critical time sensitive issue.
Thornton emphasized that the council is not in charge of making the plan. Per Federal Guidelines, county councils can approve or reject what the commissioners send to the council, but it is not up to the council to make the plan.
Public input at the beginning of the meeting regarding the ARP funding opportunities was provided by several residents who expressed a need for better roads and for improved health and wellness opportunities for the county.
Sandra Cornell encouraged the council to work as a team for the betterment of Marshall County. She noted that both Economic Development and quality Infrastructure are important. She recommended that the council work as a team the next few months and to help teach the new members as they will be serving at the start of the year.
Additional comments by other residents included the dangers of the road conditions to motorcyclists made by Aaron McAnally and to bicyclists made by Laura Vervynckt.
Jerry Moore expressed concern about increasing costs moving forward. “We need to be cognizant about maintaining the entire county infrastructure. I wish everyone well on the council and I hope we can have a smooth transition.”
Eric Holsopple, Hospital Administrator of Plymouth Medical Campus at Saint Joseph Health System and Argos resident spoke of the health and wellness needs in Marshall County and the direction that Blue Zones can provide to address those issues in sustainable ways. Not denying the need for better roads, he informed the council for the need to balance the needs with the options moving forward. “We have a huge opportunity ahead of us with the funds available and Blue Zones. You guys I’m sure have all heard about it, but the policies and procedures and ways to create sustainable change are an opportunity that are ahead of us. Roads follow. Roads are important. A healthy and active lifestyle is something that we extremely need in this county. Because of all the social determinants of health on mortality, addictive behaviors and those things that are prevalent in our community we have to find a way to address those. We have to find ways to attract and retain our workforce because those also will help us get to the point where we want to be at with the infrastructure that we know is necessary. I just wanted to provide that balanced perspective.”
Linda Yoder, Director of Marshall County Community Foundation and United Way, spoke of the work done through the Marshall County Crossroads Stellar Team addressing issues from health and wellness to housing to economic development and affordable childcare. She validated many challenges with a lot of opportunity for Marshall County to navigate. Marshall County ranks 64th out of 92 counties on some health factors, ranking as a state 29 out of 50 on some of those same health factors. “Those are some big numbers and scary numbers.”
She recognized numerous entities putting forth effort to enhance health and wellness in Marshall County but with too little or no avail. “Those numbers aren’t changing. In fact they are getting worse. So as you are thinking about these big issues and some of these big topics ahead of you, I hope that that one stays front and center as well. That’s an issue that’s not going away. It’s getting worse instead of better.”
She spoke of the proposal to become a Blue Zones Community and how those communities impacted in a positive way in the same health factors where Marshall County needs improvement. “We think there’s opportunity there. We hope that’s something you’ll be able to consider as you take all of this in.” She offered the research and full proposal to interested council members for consideration of the initiative.
Recordings of county meetings can be found online at www.co.marshall.in.us.
