Logan County to receive $5.5 million federal funds to aid pandemic recovery

 

[June 14, 2021] 

At both the Logan County Board’s June Finance Committee meeting and at the Board Workshop, one focus of discussion was the American Rescue Plan Act Project Administrator.

Board members present were Board Chairman Emily Davenport, Vice Chairman Scott Schaffenacker, David Blankenship, Janet Estill, Cameron Halpin, David Hepler, Steve Jenness, Keenan Leesman, Bob Sanders, Annette Welch and Jim Wessbecher. Bob Farmer was absent.

The American Rescue Plan Act was signed by President Joe Biden in March 2021 to help combat the economic impacts of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Logan County will be receiving a total of $5.5 million from this Act, which will be disbursed in two separate installments. The first installment of $2.75 M will be disbursed to the county in the next few months. The second $2.75 M installment will be disbursed sometime next year.

There was some initial discussion about the funding at the Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, June 8. Finance Committee Chairman Steve Jenness said the funds must be used for very specific items.

For an American Rescue Plan Act Project Administrator, Jenness presented the Finance Committee with a few options:

Option one is to have Logan County Treasurer Penny Thomas, Chairman Davenport, and Jenness wing it and follow along with what the funds can be used for.

Option two is to consult the Bellwether Group, who helps counties determine what they can spend the money on and file quarterly reviews. These reviews are required by the federal government to prove what the money is being spent on.

Option three is to hire someone outside the county with knowledge that can follow up on the Act. This person would help with administration of the money and other county items.

Since the Bellwether Group is helping other counties, Jenness said he believes they would be up to date on how the money can be used. This group charges a $10,000 fee for helping counties.

Logan County Treasurer Penny Thomas said another county had talked to the group and found out that the $10,000 charge is for each installment. She suggested contacting the group. Several other counties are already working with them.

With that much money coming in, Chairman Davenport said paying the company $10,000 to help the county figure everything out seems like drop in the bucket.

The first report will be due July 31 and Davenport said she did not think she or others in the county were ready to put that together. Davenport said she would like to work with the Bellwether Group.

Sanders asked if the $10,000 could come from the money the county will be receiving.

Because the company would be helping sort out how the money could be spent, Jenness said they could pay it out of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act.

With the board having a freeze on raises to non-union employees last year, Jenness wanted to discuss that issue. It is Jenness’ understanding they could use some of the money coming in from the Act for what would have gone to raises to catch them up.

Due to all the needs in the county, Blankenship said he would support reasonable bonuses but not raises or salary increases. Though the audits are starting to improve, he would like to see a little more stability there.

Sanders said he would support raises.
Once the county knows more about what the money in the Rescue Plan Act can be used for, Jenness said they could decide. Jenness has thought about one time bonuses, which he said may be easier than trying to do retroactive raises.

The way Davenport reads the Act, she said the money could only be used for employees such as cops and medical professionals, not office staff.

The Act does specify areas like public safety, health department, and human services. Thomas said that is something the group administrating it can help the county figure out. She reminded the board they put $25,000 in the budget in a contingency fund to review raises after the audit.

Since some employees got bonuses or raises from their department heads in December, Davenport said it would not be fair for those people to get them again. Blankenship agreed with her.

Jenness said he does not just want to focus on raises since there are many items the funds from the Act could be used for. The board would need to incorporate as much of the money as it could for use for various areas. Jenness said broadband and internet access are areas the county may need to improve on.

At Thursday’s Board Workshop, Jenness said he would bring forward a motion at the regular meeting to approve Bellwether Group as the Project Administrator for the American Rescue Plan Act Funds. They will help provide information for the county on what they can and cannot spend the funds on.

Jenness said as discussed at the Finance Committee Meeting Tuesday, Bellwether will be paid the $10,000 fee for their work from the funds coming in through the American Rescue Plan Act.

Chairman’s report

Chairman Davenport said Cameron Halpin is stepping down from his District Four board seat as of this month.

Dale Nelson reached out to Davenport about filling the spot when he heard Halpin would be stepping down.

At the Board Workshop, Davenport asked Nelson to speak to the board and see if they had any questions. Nelson had already reached out many of the board members by phone.

Nelson ran against Halpin in the November election. Since he campaigned, Nelson said he has learned what he could have done differently, gotten a different perspective and learned more about the county.

In the past year, Nelson said he has and learned to ask more questions instead of just depending on what people tell him. He wants to help out with the county. Nelson has seen other members come together to do what is right for the county and he wants to work with them and give back to the county. Nelson said he is always open to feedback.

The board will vote on Nelson’s appointment at Tuesday’s voting meeting.

[Angela Reiners]