County begins approving ARPA projects

With a number of decisions still to be made regarding American Rescue Plan Act funds in the county, the Putnam County Commissioners have nonetheless begun approving projects to be funded with the nearly $7.3 million in federal money.

With some of the proposals facing deadlines or expiring bids, the Commissioners on Monday approved seven different projects totalling more than $6 million.

The two largest of these were for infrastructure upgrades for two local water companies — $2.5 million for South 43 Water Corp. and $2 million for Reelsville Water Corp. The Town of Russellville will also receive $200,000 toward a new water tower.

Clear Creek Conservancy/Heritage Lake will receive $518,000 to go toward a sewer plant upgrade.

Meanwhile, Beyond Homeless will receive $150,00 to augment the current shelters for both women and men, including upgrades that will fully provide for a men’s shelter in the county.

The two remaining projects currently funded likely have the most direct connection to the COVID-19 pandemic, to which ARPA was designed as a response.

The Putnam County Health Department will receive $420,162 for a truck, trailer and equipment to create a mobile vaccination unit.

“There are some regions in the county that are not getting vaccinated and we could bring it to them,” Commissioner Tom Helmer said.

Meanwhile, $240,000 was approved as premium pay for county essential workers who had to respond to the pandemic at its worst.

The one-time payment will be for $3,000, with the idea that the county employs in the neighborhood of 80 workers who will qualify.

Helmer and David Berry approved the decision unanimously. While Commissioner Rick Woodall was absent Monday, he has been part of the extensive discussions leading up to the decision.

Helmer recommended tabling the remaining proposals, which include $450,000 to volunteer fire departments for lost revenue, $194,000 to the Putnam County Public Library, $175,000 to Putnam County EMS, $100,000 to Mental Health America of Putnam County, $50,000 to the Putnam County Pantry Coalition and $21,000 to the Putnam County Hospice and Palliative Care Association.

All proposals have been vetted by an advisory committee that included Woodall and Helmer as well as County Council members Dave Fuhrman, Stephanie Campbell and Jay Alcorn.