Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
Scott County Board of Commissioners and County Council held a special joint meeting to discuss the remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds on Nov. 6.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 granted $1.9 trillion to help the country recover from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Commissioners have approved an interlocal agreement with the neighboring Jefferson County for purchasing Chip Seal equipment with ARPA funding. The agreement was approved earlier this year by the Commissioners but tabled by the Council.
Commissioner President Mike Jones said that there were close to 45 days before the deadline of December 31 of this year to allocate the funds for ARPA. He added that the county has $1,868,261.21 to be spent in Scott County.
The $1.8 does not include the purchase of 3 new sheriff’s vehicles and the purchase of Scottsburg City Hall, making the total remaining funds $1.41 million, according to Council member John Miller.
“My issue here,” said Jones, “Is I don’t want to be sending a dime back to the federal government, if we don’t come to some sort of agreement, that’s exactly what is going to happen.”
Council member John Collins asked about the appropriation of ARPA funds in the renovation of Scottsburg City Hall which Jones answered that the agreed-upon renovation for both City Hall and the Scott County Courthouse would be $400,000.
County Attorney Zach Stewart said that the $400,000 was discussed but it had not been approved by either Commissioners or Council, he added that the resolution for the purchase of city hall would need to be amended.
The remaining funds left in ARPA if the commissioners and council were to approve the $400,000 would be $704,487.21 to allocate, said Jones.
“So ($704,487.21) is what we have left,” said Jones, “And again, I know there has been a controversy over us buying a piece of equipment for chip seal and entering into an interlocal agreement with Jefferson County.”
He added that buying chip seal equipment and entering into an interlocal agreement as a way to preserve the longevity of the county roads.
Jones said that at one time without the agreement and purchasing the chip seal equipment was $756,625 that was sent to the County Council and denied with the use of ARPA. However, Commissioner Greg Prince communicated to Jefferson County Commissioners for both counties’ needs for chip seal, which the agreement was worked out between the two neighboring counties, he said.
Stewart said that the agreement can be changed at any time and at any time either county decides to no longer agree to the interlocal that either county has first priority of purchasing the equipment at fair market price.
Council member Diane Mullins said that $410,000 with the agreement was a much better compromise than the $756,625 of ARPA funds.
Council President JR Ward said that he supported the chip seal but was concerned if it would be better to contract firms to chip seal than a purchase.
Ward asked the commissioners if there was another alternative for the chip seal equipment if ARPA funds were not being used which Commissioner Randy Julian responded that the highway department would have to give up paving for one year.
“It’s weighing really heavily on me the amount of money we have to come up for the other shortfalls in the county and I’m just trying to think outside of the box to take care of that and this,” said Ward.
Jones said to Ward, “So I guess I’m understanding your desire would be to take the ARPA money and pay the sheriff’s situation.”
Ward responded with if ARPA was a possible option to be able to utilize and be able to figure out how to fix the problem without zeroing out an account in the county.
Following the meeting Julian said that he didn’t know how to exactly feel about the meeting, but that the council was looking for an easy way out to take care of their shortfall. He added that taking ARPA and forcing the commissioners to take from the citizens upset him.
Council Vice President Lyndi Hughbanks commented afterwards that she felt the meeting was a productive conversation and productive ideas between both boards. The questions she had at previous council meetings were answered through the joint meeting.
“I just hope we can figure it out collectively as two boards and do what’s best for the county,” said Hughbanks
There was no vote decided between the Commissioners and Council in the use of ARPA funds but there will be another joint meeting between the two boards on tomorrow (Nov. 14) that both boards will extend an invitation to Sheriff Jerry Goodin.
During the meeting the Council did approve using $24,100 of restricted opioid funds to repair the roof of the historic Nazarene Church used by the county jail. In the 5-2 vote, John White and Eric Gillespie opposed the approval of the funds.