Commission continues discussion on ARPF; allocating for broadband and water
By Hannah Lester
LEE COUTNY — The Lee County Commission designated $700,000 of the county’s $10 million revenue replacement funds during its meeting Monday night.
They additionally designated percentages of the county’s remaining $21.9 million American Rescue Plan Act funds.
District 1 Commissioner Doug Cannon asked to be placed on the agenda to approve 58% of the funding toward water and 20% to broadband.
“Here a while back we had a work session on the ARPA funds and had a discussion at the last meeting on the broadband and water,” Cannon said. “At that time we discussed 58% toward water and 20% toward broadband.”
The other unofficial budgeted items include 4.64% of that $21 million funding for the Investing in Alabama Counties fee, $1.3 million for ventilation in the Justice Center, 5.92% to ventilation in the Highway Department Complex, 1% to ventilation in the Deed Room of the County Courthouse, 2.9% to EMA communications equipment/response and 1% for metal detectors with temperature readings.
The $700,000 from the revenue replacement will be used toward an access road for the Beauregard Park.
“So, we also discussed the ARPA money, the $10 million we set aside as revenue replacement and we had discussed designating $700,000 from that side of the money to the Beauregard Park access road,” said County Administrator Holly Leverette. “And I wanted to verify with the county engineer that that was going to be the amount we were going to need for that.
“And upon verification of that, now I’m ready to ask the commission to actually designate that $700,000.”
The funding will be used to create the new access road and turn lanes.
The road is half a mile in length from LR 400 to the intersection of LR 431, said County Engineer Justin Hardee at Beauregard Elementary.
“I’m trying to understand how half mile is costing that much,” said Probate Judge Bill English.
The topography of the road is also in “swamp land” Hardee said.
For more information on the ARPA funds, see the previous stories here:
www.opelikaobserver.com/commission-creates-working-arpa-budget/
www.opelikaobserver.com/lee-county-sets-work-session-on-arpa/
www.opelikaobserver.com/10-million-arpa-funds-to-be-classified-as-revenue-replacement-funds/
OTHER BUSINESS:
– The commission heard a presentation from the Rape Counselors of East Alabama.
– The commission heard an update on the new maintenance shop and engineering facility.
– The commission approved the final plat approval for the Gentry-Lee Road 37 Subdivision.
– The commission heard the second reading for the East Alabama Health Care Authority Board.
– The commission approved the Senior Mapper/GIS position for the appraisal department.
– The commission approved an educational reimbursement request for Sheriff Jay Jones.
– The commission approved an easement for the relocation of a power line at the new maintained shop and engineering facility.
– The commission voted to clear land for a training area at the National Center for Asphalt Technology facility on Lee Road 151.
– The commission voted to enter a lease agreement with Bancorp South for solid waste vehicles.
– The commission heard a report from Environmental Services Director John McDonald on bulk pickup rules and regulations.