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2021-11-24 American Rescue Plan Act planningAmerican Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) planning November 24, 2021 10:30 a.m. Present: Commissioner Pollock, Commissioner Swope, Commissioner Grose, County Manager Erik Martin, Becky Butler, Matt Jaeger, Lee Napier, Richard DeBolt, Todd Chaput, Lindsey Shankle, Alison Puckett, Eric Farmer, Grace Jimenez, Tiffanie Morgan, Steve Wohld Guests: None Recorder: Rieva Lester EDC / Economic Alliance update Todd Chaput provided an overview of the Economic Alliance’s recent efforts, including: • Monthly report has been distributed to stakeholders, and the response has been favorable. • Awaiting review of the Build Back Better (BBB). • Still awaiting data from some small communities. • Will meet with cities within the next couple weeks to review mapping data. • Lobbying efforts will be in full swing by early December. • Work continues on scoring metric. • Will meet with the state legislators prior to the Nov. 30 Legislative Roundtable to give the lawmakers a quick look at the mapping work. • Still awaiting finalization of the agreement with Lewis County and the PUD. Funding requests Courts / IT: Becky Butler said the courts and IT have requested $250,000 to finalize technological improvements necessary in response to the pandemic. Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve the Court / IT application for ARPA funding totaling up to $250,000. Commissioner Grose seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Court security / cleaning / rent: Becky said the courts have requested ARPA funding to help offset costs associated to rent as well as cleaning and security costs. Steve Wohld noted that the county has daily and monthly rates for its buildings and that the courts have been renting the fairgrounds building at reduced rates. He said the county is unable to rent the building out to others like it typically would, so it is losing that income. He noted that state laws prohibit county departments from providing services to other departments that would be a financial benefit to other departments. He said that at the outset of the pandemic, the county and the courts explored other options – within and outside the county – to house the courts, and that the courts ultimately decided that the county fairgrounds facility best fit the courts’ needs. Becky noted that the general fund has been used to cover the rental costs in 2021. She also noted that the state sets the restrictions the local courts must follow, and that is what prompted the use of the fairgrounds building in the first place. Commissioner Grose made a motion to allocate up to $100,000 to help cover court costs associated to security and fairground rental fees related to COVID-19 for 2021. Commissioner Swope seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Public Health: Commissioner Swope made a motion to approve Public Health’s ARPA funding request for up to $40,000 to cover curriculum costs. Commissioner Grose seconded. Motion passed 3-0. Citizen engagement Becky noted that the Polco survey has received more than 1,000 respondents. She discussed outreach to Hispanic communities to encourage families to participate in the survey. Youth connection Lindsey Shankle outlined her recent outreach efforts. Next steps Becky suggested canceling the December ARPA meetings and to resume meetings in January. The commissioners agreed. Meeting ended at 11:06 a.m.