Supervisors’ ARPA Committee is beginning to consider projects for any leftover funds.
Among them:
Seward sewer, and revamping the county website.
Additional proposals will be accepted until May 20.
Thursday, ARPA Committee members heard updates on replacement windows at the Old Stone Fort and historical markers--done and just about wrapped up with about $5,000 that could go to other projects, $25,000 in total; $1.35 million for a new county accounting system and virtual desktops; and $50,000 for revised flood evacuation signage and outreach.
All ARPA monies have to be committed–either spent or with a contract in hand–by the end of the year or be returned to the United States treasury.
No problem said Scott Haverly, the county’s IT director; they’re well on their way with his two projects.
Same, said Office of Emergency Management’s Mike Hartzel.
Work on the signs was delayed because the DPW employee who’ll be making them has just wrapped up his winter snow duties, but they should be done by the end of the summer.
That leaves the question of $195,000 to the Greater Mohawk Land Bank for projects that are stalled–or not even begun–something that’s alarming supervisors.
GMVLB Executive Director Tolga Morawski was expected at both and the March and April ARPA Committee meetings to update supervisors on his projects–demolition of three properties in Summit, Carlisle, and Cobleskill and stabilization of the old Adler Hotel in Sharon Springs.
In an email to ARPA Committee chair Alicia Terry sent at 1:42pm Thursday–the meeting was at 2pm–Mr. Morawski said he was unable to attend, but expects the demolitions will be completed by late August or early September.
Supervisors scoffed at that timeline.
“It’s April,” said Ms. Terry. “December isn’t too far away.”
Nothing’s been done at the Summit site, pointed out Supervisor Harold Vroman, who said he’s talked to contractors and the home slated for demo is “saveable.”
A larger issue, though, is the Adler.
Mr. Morawski wrote that the tarps to stabilize the buildings roof have been purchased and arrived, but the owner, Bonnie York, “has refused to sign off on the required paperwork to…allow the work to proceed.
“We were asked by the Mayor…to attend the upcoming court date over code violations…We expect this will be settled at the court hearing, and the GMVLB allowed to proceed with stabilization under the originally agreed upon terms.”
It’s this money that’s the likeliest to be “returned.”
While supervisors discussed pulling the funding now, they agreed to give Mr. Morawski another month to get it all resolved.
“Tolga hasn’t obligated anything,” said consultant Steve Dyer. “We have to hang it on his letter. That makes it very dicey.”
If that money is returned or if, like the Old Stone Fort windows, projects come in under budget, there will be money that can be reallocated.
One place that makes sense is the county website, said County Administrator Korsah Akumfi; a facelift would better showcase the county, make it easier to use, and comply with state transparency requirements.
Mr. Akumfi is seeking $150,000 in ARPA funds–if they become available.
With, admittedly, his hat in his hands, Seward Supervisor Earlin Rosa asked for help with his $600,000-$800,000 sewer project.
Initial surveys show the 42 impacted homeowners won’t meet income requirements for a critical federal grant the town was seeking.
That means the state-required improvements will cost each about $500 a year—up from about $157 annually.
Seward has already set aside the $187,000 the town received in ARPA funds to help offset the cost of the sewer system repairs, but would have to bond the rest, Mr. Rosa said.