Lengthy discussion last Thursday night at the DeWitt County Board meeting over spending of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds started when DeWitt County Sheriff Mike Walker requested a fix for the floor in the jail. 

Last week on Regional Radio News, this story was introduced just briefly and the conversation on how to pay for the nearly $100,000 expense. Dan Matthews, who temporarily led the property committee meeting, indicates they did not make a determination on how to pay for the flooring because there was no direction for ARPA money.

Sheriff Walker informed the Board the floor is original to the building and maintenance stopped waxing it and just cleaned it and now it is starting to become a safety hazard with the impacts of the change in care.

Roughly $300,000 sits in a fund called power plant escrow. Buck Carter wondered why that money has been untouched for several years to which Newberg offered an explanation on how it got there and why it is being left there.

Carter suggested taking funds from the general fund and then reimbursing the money with the escrow account funds. County Administrator DeeDee Rentmeister wasn't sure how that could be done but pointed out it was going to be her suggestion they re-allocate the funds to the general fund for the next budget cycle.

DeWitt County Board Chair Terry Ferguson brought up the prospect of using ARPA funds for the project or using the deprecation fund.

The conversation quickly transitioned to calls for plans for ARPA money. Aaron Kammeyer says there are a lot of different opinions on the use of the money but called for a plan to be put together for it.

Melonie Tilley suggested the ARPA funds pay for the project.

Sheriff Walker had his request approved to be funded through ARPA money.