Rio Communities encumbers ARPA funding on several projects

RIO COMMUNITIES — In an effort to get ahead of what might come rolling down from Washington, D.C., the Rio Communities Council voted last week to spend  federal funding on several different projects.

Rio Communities City Manager Martin Moore told the council and mayor during a special meeting that because of a potential claw back of American Rescue Plan Act funds, he wanted all the money allocated to the city to be encumbered before it could be taken away.

“We’ve been watching what’s going on with the debt ceiling and with Congress,” Moore said. “We know what our deadlines are according to the grant agreement. Our concern is we want to make it clear where these dedicated ARPA funds are going.”

The American Rescue Plan Act provides funding to state and local governments for a number of uses, including revenue replacement for government services, COVID-19 expenditures, premium pay for essential workers and more.

The city of Rio Communities received a total of $1,122,193 for the American Rescue Plan Act.

Last week, the council unanimously approved a list of projects to be paid for with the federal funds. Moore said the projects will affect the projects currently under construction at city hall, including the new police department and fire administration office.

The list includes:

• $86,161.88: Supply and install a state-of-the-art audio-visual system in Rio Communities City Hall council chambers to live stream meetings due to COVID.
• $8,667.89: Police department security cameras, panic buttons, video intercom system in case of active shooters.
• $6,585.74: Fire department administration office in city hall, security cameras and video intercom system in case of active shooters.
• $148,163.41: City Hall security cameras, video intercoms, panic buttons in case of active shooters.
• $150,000: Service truck/fire apparatus (previously approved).
• $500,000: Ladder truck/fire apparatus; decontamination unit will also be on the apparatus (previously approved).
• $10,000: Decontamination unit at fire department.
• $34,590: SCBA units for fire department.
• $3,000: COVID suits for fire department.
• $35,656.82: Court room security remodel in case of active shooter. This construction is complete, to reimburse the city for monies already expended.
• $17,304.98: Police department security wall/window for COVID and in case of active shooter. This construction has begun; $2,430.09 will be reimbursed to city for amount that has been invoiced.
• $96,000: Premium pay for all present appointed, exempt and regular salaried and hourly, full-time and part-time employees who have worked through the COVID pandemic from March 2021 to May 11.
• $26,062.28: Security at Rio Communities Fire Department Station 1 and Station 2.

Moore told the council the city has two different deadlines — December 2024 to obligate the funding, and to have it expended by December 2026. While these deadlines were given to local and state governments, the city manager said it doesn’t preclude Congress to claw back money that hasn’t been encumbered.

Rio Communities Councilor Peggy Gutjahr questioned the premium pay for employees. She wanted to know if the funds were for employees who did extra work during the pandemic.

“This had to do with working through COVID as essential workers,” Moore said.

“The final rule says it  is hazard pay, COVID premium pay,” said Stephanie Finch, the city’s finance director and treasurer.

Rio Communities Mayor Joshua Ramsell said he was happy the council approved the projects, and glad the city would be saving money.

“We’ll be saving $52,000 this fiscal year, and $148,000 next fiscal year,” Ramsell said. “This is a savings for the community.”