The Marshall County Commissioners took time Monday morning to discuss American Rescue Plan Act projects for funding. The money the county received for ARPA needs to be earmarked to be spent by the end of 2024.
The commissioners previously talked about assisting food banks with extra funds since they are experiencing a higher volume of clients and lower donations of food. Commissioner Kevin Overmyer said he spoke with Auditor Angie Birchmeier and it was thought that sub-recipient agreements would work between the county and the food banks where the food banks of Marshall County could be reimbursed with American Rescue Plan Act funds. The commissioners approved a motion to approve those sub-recipient agreements with County Attorney Jim Clevenger to draft those agreements. About $12,500 will be used for each one.
Overmyer said there are some food banks locally that need freezers and those requests could be made and then reimbursed, if the Marshall County Council agrees to the funding.
As for the rest of the $172,000 in ARPA funds, Overmyer suggested that it be used as matching funds for a new roof at the Heartland Art Center on Michigan Street in Plymouth. Heartland Artists President Anna Kietzman and SRKM Architecture Co-Owner Brent Martin previously appeared before the commissioners who explained the need for a new roof at the Heartland Art Center. They requested the support of the commissioners to make a financial request to the county council in the amount of $180,000 towards the cost. Martin explained this donation will be a portion of the matching funds required by Lily Endowment and READI 2.0. At that meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved a motion to write a letter of support for READI 2.0 funds for the project. Commission President Stan Klotz said that if the council does not approve that then maybe it could be used to pre-pay for materials for the Highway Department. Overmyer reminded Klotz that it was always the commissioner’s plan for projects.
Commissioner Michael Burrourghs made a motion to send a recommendation to the county council to spend the remaining ARPA funds on the roof project at the Heartland Artists Center. That motion was unanimously approved. If that is denied, then the commissioners will discuss using the money to pre-pay for materials for the highway department for 2025.
