By JOSEPH FONDREN
NEA Town Courier
Contributor
BLYTHEVILLE— The Quorum Court’s American Rescue Plan (ARP) committee met Thursday afternoon at the Mississippi County Courthouse Annex Building in Blytheville to get an update on the grants from infrastructure projects throughout Mississippi County.
In March of 2021, the county was given $7,895,980.00 with $2,000,000 designated for “Mississippi County Infrastructure” grants of $200,000, apiece.
According to committee chairwoman Molly Jackson, the cities of Blytheville and Manila have already spent their grant money and given receipts back to the county.
Jackson added that some cities haven’t spent any of the grant money as of Thursday meetings.
Non-committee member Justice Michael White asked Jackson if she has had any conversations with the cities who haven’t spent any of the grant money.
Jackson responded by stating she was going to start reaching out with them this month and then again in June.
She reminded the justices seven justices-White, Rick Ash, Tobye McClanahan, Neil Burge, Betty Hepler and Drake Brown- present that the grant states the money has to be committed by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026 or the money has to be sent back to the federal government.
Jackson stated 11 cities throughout Mississippi County received the grant and that three projects were not awarded the grant.
The city of Blytheville project was concerning Wastewater and Sewer. Whereas, the city of Manila project was expanding the Manila Fire Department.
Jackson added the County is using the ARP funds on the refurbishing record books in the County Clerk and Circuit Clerk office. The county also designated funds to be used on the Sheriff’s police vehicles.
According to Jackson, there is currently “right at” $1,000,000 that has not been committed.
The reason for the meeting was for two cities -Etowah and Keiser- who received the grants but after starting the bidding process the prices had changed since presenting their presentation.
Etowah Mayor Bo McCullom was present at the meeting but no Keiser representative was present at the meeting.
White asked McCullom if the shortage of funds “hung up” the city of Etowah.
McCullom responded, “Kind of. What we end up having to do if we don’t come up with the money is there are going to be some homes that don't get their grinder pump upgraded and redone. And we are just going to pick out the worst ones and do the worst ones and try to just go along, with the ones that are kind of just getting along. And try to replace them one at a time.”
McCullom added that the city of Etowah has already awarded the bids, but he worries about the price going up doing the pumps one at a time.
After discussions about re-opening the grant, Ash questioned if there would be enough time for the entire process to retake place if the money has to be committed by the end of 2024.
McClanahan added that when the grant was opened in March of 2023, the county had five new mayors and may have found new issues that could be considered for the grant if re-opened.
McClanahan added that if re-opened the grant money needs to be only for water service and wastewater treatment, which Ash agreed.
Ash asked if the grant if reopened be for $200,000 or a different amount?
McClanahan responded she was thinking $125,000 or $150,000.
Discussion was also had concerning Etowah and Keiser having to cut back and prioritize on their projects if the grant wasn’t reopened.
Discussion then returned back to reopening the grant and limiting the scope of the bids to just water and sewer.
“If you do water and sewer, that's public health,” stated Ash.
McClanahan added, “That’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
Ash responded, “That way you're making it all about health. It's not about transportation.”
“Everybody deserves basic clean water,” said McClanahan.
After further discussion on the issue, McClanahan made the motion to reopen the grant process for six grants concerning only water and sewer at $125,000 apiece. McDonald second the motion.
Concerning the spending of the remaining ARP funds, White asked where the County was on the Little Orphan Annie building which was bought with funds to store county records in.
According to Jackson, as of Thursday’s meeting no records have been stored inside the building.
White asked what steps have been taken since buying the property and then putting the lock on the door.