More than a year after local governments began receiving large monetary grants through the 2021 federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), two cities have allocated part of their share, while several …
This item is available in full to subscribers.
We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.
If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, or you are a print subscriber who had access to our previous wesbite, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you have not yet logged in to your account on this new site.
If you are a current print subscriber and did not have a user account on our previous website, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.
Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.
Please log in to continue |
More than a year after local governments began receiving large monetary grants through the 2021 federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), two cities have allocated part of their share, while several others are conserving their allotment.
Local city and village governments in Warren County are estimated to have received a combined total of over $3 million in ARPA funding. This is in addition to $6.9 million that was distributed to the Warren County Commission.
The Record recently checked in with city and village governments to ask how they are using their ARPA funding. Their responses revealed a generally conservative use of the funds; ARPA money doesn’t have to be allocated until the end of 2024, and so far local cities haven’t shown much hurry to put the funds to use.
Here’s a little more about how towns are using their funds:
The city of Warrenton estimated that it would receive around $1.7 million in ARPA funding as of July. City Administrator Brandie Walters said around $350,500 of that has been allocated to a range of projects this year, including an additional wage increase for city staff, computer hardware and software, expansion of office space in City Hall, a cover for the Aquatic Center’s outdoor pool, purchasing two police cars, outfitting two more police cars, and purchasing police car cameras.
“Other items that are allocated in our budget have not been purchased or completed at this time,” Walters added, referring to several park and athletic field upgrades identified in the city’s 2022-2023 budget. Another $960,000 in ARPA funding is budgeted for those projects.
Wright City was expected to receive more than $860,000 in APRA funding, and thus far hasn’t spent or allocated any of it, said City Administrator Jim Schuchmann.
Over the last year, the Wright City Board of Aldermen has publicly discussed a number of infrastructure projects that could be candidates for ARPA spending. The main categories of discussion have been for road improvements, stormwater drainage and park improvements. However, Wright City is also in the process of applying for other grants for those projects, and so hasn’t yet committed to a funding source for most of them.
Marthasville also hasn’t allocated any of its ARPA funding, said Mayor David Lange. Marthasville’s funding allotment is around $240,000.
Although the city government has been conducting numerous water, sewer, and street upgrades, those projects have been mostly paid for out of the city’s reserve funds. Current construction of a new well and water tank and other water projects are being paid for with a $1.8 million loan.
Marthasville aldermen haven’t done much public discussion on what their ARPA funding will be used for.
Around $90,000 has been received by the city of Truesdale. About $30,000 is being put toward the city’s water system and $60,000 is going toward general government services, according to budget documents provided by the city.
The village of Innsbrook has received around $101,200 from ARPA, said Village Administrator Carla Ayala. Thus far, the Village Board of Trustees hasn’t dedicated those funds to anything specific, Ayala said.
