The Marshall County Council members were presented with an additional appropriation request Monday morning for the county’s American Rescue Plan.
The county is expected to receive $8.9 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds and half of that has already been sent to the county.
During the council’s May meeting, they tabled the American Rescue Plan for more clarification on what the money would be used for and sent it back to the commissioners for final action. The plan allocated $300,000 for non-profit organizations, $2 million for clean water: other sewer infrastructure, $1 million for broadband, $1 million for highway materials, $1 million for highway professional services, $1 million for highway equipment, and $100,000 for administrative expenses.
The Marshall County Commissioners last week voted to send specific requests to the Marshall County Council to approve $1 million for Highway Department equipment and $100,000 for administrative expenses.
The requests were up for approval during this week’s Marshall County Council meeting, along with all of the other requests for the American Rescue Plan Act funds, which caused Councilman Jesse Bohannon and Councilman Tim Harman to point out that there was no clarification given to the plan. Commissioner Michael Burroughs stated that no specific questions were presented to the commissioners. Councilman Jon VanVactor commented that he made a motion to table it in May so that questions could be posed to the commissioners in a meeting and that did not occur.
Bohannon made a motion to only approve what the commissioners agreed to send to the council last week for approval and to deny the rest of the appropriations in the American Rescue Plan as he claimed the commissioners did not take final action on the plan.
As a point of discussion, Councilman Jim Masterson asked what not-for-profit organizations would benefit with the proposed $300,000. Burroughs did clarify that the $300,000 proposed would go toward all of the organizations that are currently supported by the county and the food banks. A motion was made and seconded to approve that, with Councilman Bohannon stating that the commissioners did not legally vote on it. Harman commented that the commissioners were asked to take final action with final numbers, but only took action on two items.
Burroughs said the plan was approved, but Commissioner Stan Klotz said it was his understanding that he thought the expense for the Highway Department equipment and professional services were up for council approval.
The discussion went back to Bohannon’s original motion to approve the $1 million for Highway Department equipment and $100,000 for professional services and deny the rest of the proposed American Rescue Act Plan additional appropriations. The motion passed 5-2 with Heath Thornton, Jim Masterson, Tim Harman, Mandy Campbell, and Jesse Bohannon in favor, and Jon VanVactor and Steve Harper voting no.
