Delaware County's initial plan for use of ARPA local recovery funds
DELAWARE COUNTY OKLAHOMA - BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION - 21-22001.
WHEREAS, Commissioners have given due consideration to initial plans for use of the funds distributed to County by virtue of ARPA; and
WHEREAS, Commissioners acknowledge that County shall only use the funds provided to cover costs incurred by county by December 31, 2024:
- to respond to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;
- to respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health
- for the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of
- to make necessary investment in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure; funds,
emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers throughout the county that are performing such essential work,
county government due to the COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues connected in the most recent full fiscal year of the county prior to the emergency; or
as described by Section 603(c) of ARPA,
NOW THEREFORE, the Board of Commissioners of Delaware County, Oklahoma, resolves to adopt County's initial plan for use of ARPA local recovery funds, as follows:
1. To respond to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the following are proposed and adopted:
a. Implement improvements to the county health department, DHS building, courthouse, 911 Annex and the county jail by performing an industrial cleaning of all air ducts and installation of Bio-Fighter Germicidal Ultraviolet Light Systems, together with all necessary subsystem modifications made necessary by such improvements, to facilitate substantially improved air exchange rate and health & safety in these public facilities.
2. To respond to negative economic impacts of the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the following are proposed and adopted:
a. To respond to the economic injury suffered due to Covid-19 Pandemic, grants will be available to the hardest-hit qualified small businesses. Each application will be reviewed and approved by the County Commissioners Board following a simple online application for qualified recipients.
b. Recognizing the importance of the nonprofit sector to the high quality of life throughout the County. There will be an approved allotment of funds set aside to help Delaware County nonprofits recover from the impact of COVID-19. The Delaware County Nonprofit Resiliency Fund grants will be administered by the county grant administrator. The funding grants help nonprofits deal with COVID-19 impacts on so many levels. Nonprofits serving heightened basic needs such as food, clothing and shelter can get more support. Nonprofits serving seniors and youths can get help reshaping programs. Environmental nonprofits experiencing higher outdoor usage levels as a result of COVID-19 can benefit. And this will help arts, culture and historic preservation nonprofits figure out how to get up and running again, to safely bring back audiences, attract tourism, and engage and inspire all of us. Each application will be reviewed and approved by the County Commissioners Board following a simple online application for qualified recipients.
c. To respond to individuals affected by the pandemic and became delinquent on rent or mortgage payments on single family homes by providing disaster financial assistance to them. Home relief grants are provided to households with an annual income at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines will be eligible for assistance. For a family of four, that is an annual income up to $52,400. Each application will be reviewed and approved by the County Commissioners Board following a simple online application for qualified recipients.
3. For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue of county government due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the following are proposed and adopted:
a. Aggregated total 2020 reduction in general revenue from base year 2019 shall be determined and funds set aside to replace the aggregate reduction in revenue; and thereafter, allocation to the various departments of prorata revenue replacement may be made, to allow for provision of governmental services that may have been curtailed as the result of the public health emergency in 2020.
4. To respond to county workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the following are proposed and adopted:
a. Provide the sum of five hundred and 00/100 dollars ($500.00) to each full-time employee and elected official for essential services provided to the county in 2020;
b. Provide the sum of two hundred fifty and 00/100 dollars ($250.00) to each part-time employee and elected official for essential services provided to the county in 2020.
c. County employees eligible for premium pay described must have been employed by county government on or before January 1, 2020 and thereafter continuously through July 1, 2021.
d. To respond to Individuals that worked through-out the county to maintain continuity of operations throughout the community are also eligible for premium pay according to U.S. Treasury guidelines in these essential areas:
a. Janitors and sanitation workers. e. Childcare, educators and other school staff
b. Public health and safety. f. Nursing home staff and home care settings
c. Social and human services staff. g. Truck drivers, transit staff and warehouse staff
d. Workers at farms, food production facilities, grocery stores and restaurants
**Eligibility guidelines still to be determined for individuals that received no hazard pay or premium pay from employers or other programs during the designated time-frames from U.S. Treasury Guidance.
5. To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure funds, the following are proposed and adopted:
a. Initials plans for investment in broadband infrastructure as the final phase of the plans for the ARPA funds.
6. The plan may be amended from time to time so long as the amendment complies with Section 603 of ARPA
So resolved this 6th day of July 2021.
DISTRICT 1 – DAVID POINDEXTER
DISTRICT 2 – JAKE CALLIHAN
DISTRICT 3 – MARTIN KIRK
