Olivia P. Tucker
Times Reporter
Scott County Council again discussed at their regular meeting on March 12 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for those seeking help around Scott County.
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 granted $1.9 trillion for the country’s recovery from the economic and health effects caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Council Vice President JR Ward addressed the Austin Parks Board, Scott County Fairgrounds Board and Vienna TWP Fire Department saying, “It was brought to our attention that you had went to the commissioners requesting some ARPA funds and was possibly given incorrect information that we would like to clear up.”
Ward said that his understanding with his fellow council members was that anything that would fund activities in Scott County would have their support that was brought to both council and commissioners.
“You guys were told that there was something on the books,” said Ward, “something on the books that we haven’t agreed to purchase and that’s not accurate at this time. There is nothing that we are aware of outstanding for ARPA funds that have come to us. In the past, they had requested some items for the Highway department that was voted on by this board and that resolution was closed. So unless they resubmit the ARPA funds to whatever they deem necessary to use it.”
Ward said, “The five of us that are sitting here, I think I have talked to John Miller and Lyndi Hughbanks, would love to see a resolution come from (the commissioners) for both of guys that are present, the fire department to fix the items you need or have requested and we don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t benefit our entire county.”
He concluded that if there was a resolution written to support the needs of the departments requesting ARPA funding, the council would give their full support to them.
Scott County Board of Commissioners at their last meeting on March 6 heard from the Austin Parks Board, Scott County Fairgrounds Board and Vienna Twp. Fire Department in requesting help in projects around the community. The Fairgrounds board would like to update the horse arena, Austin Parks seeking help on the park that is being built in Spicertown area on Austin’s westside, and the Vienna Twp. Fire Department receiving aid in repairing the 55-year-old firehouse.
The three groups were met with similar responses from Commissioner Randy Julian, he said the commissioners want to help but are committed to ensuring the preservation of the roads at a faster rate in Scott County by purchasing chip seal equipment for the highway department.
Julian said during the commissioners meeting, “What is going on with us is we have 311 miles of road, we have 4 miles a year that we can pave. So it’s over 80 years before you can get through the whole county, well if we buy a chip seal we can do 30 miles a year. So that’s we kind of hung our guns, sticking to our guns about getting a chip seal equipment and until we get the chip seal equipment we don’t know exactly how much money we have to give to projects like this.”
Scott County Council did approve the use of ARPA funding to aid the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum for $20,000 to aid in ongoing costs in the operations and losses that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Deputy Auditor Deandra Burton said that the allotted amount is matched with the city of Scottsburg to aid the Scott County Heritage Center and Museum.
The council voted 4-1 with Jonathan White opposing the decision. Miller and Hughbanks were not present during the vote.