(Atlantic, Iowa) – The Cass County Board of Supervisors held a Special Meeting today (Thursday), and acted on disbursements of remaining ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) – Covid Relief Funds. The Department of Treasury, Wednesday, announced ARPA Funds must be OBLIGATED, not approved by a resolution, by December 31, 2024, and methods by which governments are allowed to comply with the new definition. Supervisor Steve Green expressed his dismay with the last minute decision by the Treasury Department.

The Board approved a means to obligate the $10,150.54 balance not yet used for the Secondary Roads Radio System Project. Cass County Engineer Trent Wolken said if the funds need to be spent, he can use them in the two week time frame remaining, if that needs to be done. Supervisor Wendy Richter added to the discussion.

Following discussion, Steve Green motioned, and the Board approved, the use the remaining balance of of those funds for the Secondary Roads Department, and for the funds to be transferred when the bill arrives. They also approved paying Vision Atlantic’s ARPA allocation for the child care center, which was approved in a resolution on July 2nd, 2024. In other ARPA-related news, the Cass County Supervisors passed a resolution allocating the ARPA Fund balance from the Ambulance Purchase Project, for Emergency Medical Services Training. Board Chair Steve Baier explains…

Cass County Board of Supervisors Special meeting. Supervisor Wendy Richter joined via Zoom.

And, in what Steve Baier called “Further ARPA house cleaning,” the Board passed a resolution allocating ARPA Funds for Cass County Libraries, in the total amount of $20,291.91.

Supervisor Wendy Richter added clarification to the discussion.

The funds will be proportioned-out to all the public libraries in Cass County.