Commissioners planning projects to be paid by ARPA funds
Boundary County Commissioners (from left) Dan Dinning, Wally Cossairt and Tim Bertling.
Photo by EMILY BONSANT
BONNERS FERRY — Boundary County commissioners are meeting with various county departments to see what county projects can be paid for through received American Rescue Plan Act funds.
On Aug. 29, commissioners met with Boundary County Park and Recreation President Rob Tompkins and Vice President Brandon Glaza to discuss possible projects that would qualify for ARPA funds.
Commissioners have also had discussions with Emergency Risk Management Andrew O’Neal on Aug. 23 regarding using the ARPA funds for a new fire station at Curly Creek and updating equipment for the water truck.
The commissioners are researching whether funding the fire station is allowed under ARPA rules.
Commissioners said they want a list of priorities and project costs for equipment, repairs or improvements for different county departments before approving the use of ARPA funds.
Another public hearing will be held as the county budget will be opened to reflect the ARPA dollars.
On Aug. 15, the Boundary County commissioners voted to spend approximately $500,000 of the ARPA funds for the improvements for Boundary County Sheriff’s Office facilities and the Boundary County Ambulance Service in a 3-0 vote.
Funds will go to a new roof, HVAC repairs and a generator at the Armory building and a fully fitted ambulance for the BCAS.
The commissioners accepted the first two ARPA payments for various county projects at the July 18 meeting after receiving feedback from Chief Deputy Prosecutor Tevis Hull. Hull researched the ARPA funds for months.
The commissioners had previously said they would accept the funds but had not decided if they would use the funds in the future. That was partly due to the final rule not being available at the time of acceptance and the commissioners waiting for litigation to finish and gain more clarity on what executive orders or “strings” are attached to the funds.
Hull used an analysis from Bonner County. At the time of acceptance of the money in January 2021, any executive orders in place at that time is what the county is bound under. By federal case law anything executive order issued afterward would not apply, Hull said.
The county has until 2024 to dedicate funds and has until 2026 to spend the funds. The commissioners said they are not in a rush to spend the money all at once.