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Rescue Plan Act money being distributed

LISBON — County commissioners have started to distribute some of the nearly $10 million in American Rescue Plan Act money they recently received for a project, non-profits, corrections officers and first responders working on the front lines during the pandemic and some small business grants to help local business owners regroup.

Commissioner Mike Halleck said the commissioners have been “very diligent” looking at the requests being made for the money and making certain those requests meet the “narrow parameters” currently allowed for ARPA spending. They also have spoken with Assistant County Prosecutor Krista Peddicord regarding the spending regulations.

Additionally, Halleck said the small business grants now being approved were not eligible when other pandemic-related funding sources were provided to the county commissioners by the federal government.

During Wednesday’s meeting, the commissioners passed a resolution approving $317,454 of the money to be spent, including $103,500 to assist with a waterline replacement over the middle fork of Little Beaver Creek in Lisbon. That project has a total price tag of $1,878,734, and is part of the steel bridge replacement project on south Market Street in Lisbon. The waterline is connected to the bridge and the waterline must be replaced whenever the bridge is replaced.

Mayor Peter Wilson appeared at last week’s commissioner meeting thanking them for agreeing to help fund their project.

The commissioners approved another $100,000 for the Correctional Solutions Group for local corrections officers and first responders who continued to work throughout the pandemic in close proximity with those housed at the county jail.

Another approved program is $13,695 to assist The Way Station in Columbiana with the Jobs Ready-Set-Go! program. The Utica Shale Academy received $10,000 toward their move into the new building, the Hutson Building in Salineville.

Commissioners further approved $2,981 for the local Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), which has purchased a trailer with equipment for emergencies and assisted the County Health Department with vaccine clinics at the fairgrounds earlier this year.

Finally, the commissioners approved small grants ranging from $9,000 to less than $750 to 18 small businesses and organizations in the county — Stage Left Players, Piranha Aquatics, Valley Golf Club, Tri-Ohio Realty, Thoroughbred Energy Service, Excel Physical Therapy, Larry Dailey Construction, Great Lakes Water and Waste, Daniel Kaiser Towing, Twister Display/Delta Manufacturing, Lucky 7 Studios, Bermuda Tanning LLC, Wild Duck Hollow Farm, Brave Industries, V Nails LLC, Yuhanicks Cleaners/My Garment, Nick Cool Studios/Image Works and B&S Terrain Contracting.

This week’s approvals represents only about 3 percent of the money the county has received this year with about another $10 million expected next year.

In other matters before the commissioners:

— Although 10 companies requested bid packets, only one bid was received for the multi-highway paving program. The Shelly Company bid $1,722,437 for the total project and $1,067,105 for the contingencies.

— The commissioners approved county Jobs and Family Services contracts with Shoe Sensation for $66,000 and Shoe Show, also known as Shoe Dept. for $84,000 for a back to school shoes program for children. The program is paid for with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money the CCJFS receives and runs now through Sept. 30, 2022.

— Commissioners approved the hiring of Amanda Henderson of Wellsville with the child support division of the CCJFS.

djohnson@mojonews.com

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