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The Valley County Commissioners have bene holding weekly Discussion and Decision meetings to gain public input on how to spend the latest American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocation funding. Valley County received the latest ARPA allocation of $1,805,269 from the U.S. Treasury, through the Local Assistance (Public Lands Counties) fund in October and a matching amount is scheduled to be allocated again in 2023.
The funds can be used for any government services, excluding lobbying. As a result of these unexpected funds, the Commissioners have been looking at different ways the funds can best be used. In their capital improvement plan, the highest priorities identified so far are crushing gravel, airport fuel truck replacement, purchasing a Long Run Fire Department water tender replacement, City pool support, walking path upgrades, mental health services and senior center repairs, among other possibilities.
During the Oct. 26 meeting, Commissioner John Fahlgren stated gravel crushing is one of the things that has been a high priority in conversations. “By being able to do that, it would keep us from having to go out for a vote for a gravel levy because we’re basically running out of our gravel levy money that we have from the last time that passed,” explained Fahlgren. “It would set us up to be able to operate for a number of years with the new gravel, if we did all the gravel that’s been identified in the Capital Improvement Plan.”
The Commissioners have also performed a walk through around the Valley County Courthouse building to break down priorities on updates to the building including new carpet and paint, which the funding could also go towards upgrading. “We went and broke out which is our priorities for different packages. So they could bid the main traffic areas is obviously a done deal to view that situation but then you know the courthouse and the community and so the other offices we can look at a bid on them and decide wether to do them now or later,” stated Fahlgren on the potential for new carpet. “The carpets in the main hallway and in the Treasurer’s office are terrible and I think they’re almost 30 years old. We will also be getting a bid on painting,” stated Commissioner Mary Armstrong. Commissioner Paul Tweten stated “We also had planned before we even knew about any of this,” referring the upgrades were in research status before the funding was provided to the County.
Due to discussions already being in progress prior to the commitment of the Local Assistance and Tribal Consistency Funds, certain projects are ready to be moved forwarded on including discussing the funding for gravel crushing in the amount of $1 million as well as the acceptance of the refueler truck for for the airport. During the Nov. 9 meeting, the agenda includes the approval commitment of $135,000 for a fire suppression tender for Long Run Fire Department.
All three Valley County Commissioners encourage everyone to provide input for the use of these funds and welcome anyone to stop by the Commissioners office, call them on the phone, email or attend the regular Wednesday meeting at 10:30 a.m. inside of their office.
For further background, the full Capital Improvements Plan draft can be viewed at:
http://cms6.revize.com/revize/valleycounty/Valley%20County%20CIP%20April%20Draft.pdf
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