Griffin encourages Argyle trustees to plan for ARPA funds

BY Linda Adkins
Posted 9/30/21

 

 

Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin told Argyle trustees on Thursday, on Sept. 16, that he wants to make sure the village “gets their name in the pot” …

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Griffin encourages Argyle trustees to plan for ARPA funds

Posted

 

 

Osage County Presiding Commissioner Darryl Griffin told Argyle trustees on Thursday, on Sept. 16, that he wants to make sure the village “gets their name in the pot” for their part of the American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds, roughly $42,000. Osage County has already received $1.3 million of the $2.6 million allocated for their use.

Griffin said the county’s focus is helping out the health department by getting them “out of the basement” and into its own facility. 

“We got $1.3 million on the first funding last year and we spent it all but $23,” said Griffin, who was joined by Western District Commissioner Larry Kliethermes and Kelly Sink from Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC). “Our goal is not to give any money back to the federal government, we want to give it to all our citizens.”

The first question on everyone’s minds was roads. “We cannot use it for county roads,” said Griffin. 

“As far as spending it on roads, believe me, we tried it,” Kliethermes said. “It would have seemed a good way to improve county roads, but we can’t plan on that.”

“MRPC makes sure it is all legal,” said Griffin. “We don’t want to pay it back. Our goal is to spend it all but we want to do it legally.” 

He emphasized the county and cities have three years to get it done and five to spend it. “We’re not in a real big hurry.”

Also, Griffin pointed out that with the money they had already received, allowable expenditures changed all the time. “We have three years,” he said. “It could change where we could help with roads.”

Mayor Ryan Davis said he understood the money could go toward drainage issues or sewer problems. 

Argyle has not yet submitted the packet to claim their money. Sink explained the basics and walked trustees through the process.

Davis inquired whether Argyle would be able to use the money to replenish their sewer fund reserve taken from their collection funds for emergencies. “Can we utilize these funds for that reserve instead of taking money out of sewer plant funds?” he asked. 

“No,” Sink responded. “Their intent is for the money to be spent. They want people working and money circulating.” 

Sink encouraged them to consider several projects with a worksheet for each. 

That gives trustees an opportunity to look them over and MRPC will vet them with any “gray areas” run through  Legal Counsel for Missouri Foundation of Counties Travis Elliot. 

Griffin says there may be some Osage County money left over which could be filtered on down to the cities and villages. These worksheets would be the first step toward consideration for that and compliance with ARPA guidelines. 

Davis asked if they took the money and spent part but were unable to find a use for the remainder if they could simply return it. “Yes, you can put it into your account, which can be interest-bearing”, answered Sink. “At the end of the life of ARPA, you deallocate it back to the state. That option exists.”

Sink said that in MRPC’s eight-county area, no one has yet declined the money. Some mayors are taking it begrudgingly, disagreeing with the “huge sprinkling of money falling from the sky,” Sink said, “but If you don’t use it in your town, it will go to somebody else.”

“Your constituents elected you to reach out there and grab whatever you can,” Griffin said. “It’s really your obligation to do the best for your people.”

In other business, Village Clerk Kym Brunnert is still researching ordinances on abandoned vehicles and leash laws. Davis asked Griffin how abandoned vehicles are handled at the county level. 

“The sheriff puts a sticker on it and the owner is contacted,” Griffin explained. “If the vehicle is not moved, it will be towed with the towing charges added to the owner’s tax statement.”

* Davis asked about progress with Dig Rite registration. Clerk Brunnert reported most of it is filled out online. She hesitated when the use of Davis’ cell phone number required a release to be sent to AT&T relinquishing them of liability. Davis was comfortable with it, seeing it as “them trying to cover their butts.”

* Davis has done some legwork on abandoning some never-used city streets. The surveyor told Davis the county assessor’s office will divide the property between the neighboring landowners. Griffin suggested trustees research that carefully before passing an ordinance. There is a prescribed process that must be followed with advertising and a period of public comment is required. 

* Argyle has a letter from the promoters of the Rock Island Trail requesting cities submit a response that they are willing to maintain their part of the trail until it gets taken over. Davis said that was not a problem for them since those parts are routinely kept up.

* Davis reported that Angie and Keith Thompson are considering buying the property previously owned by Gayle Curtis. Former Mayor Chris Brundick had discussed donating the approximately 50x50 foot spot to whoever buys that property since the village has no use for it. 

Davis stated his personal opinion, that if they clean it up and take care of it, it should be given to them. Griffin pointed out that private ownership of the land would increase tax revenues as well.

* “Welcome to Argyle” signs will be unveiled on Sunday, Oct. 3 at the St. Aloysius Church Fall Festival. Davis asked for help from trustees to help put up the brackets.

* Tom Brunnert has been reading the meters five days a week to keep up with permit requirements.

In financial news, Argyle’s general city account had a balance of $40,804.71. Deposits totaled $3,227.69 and total expenditures were $1,881.71. The village’s MMDA account held $63,875.25. The sewer payment account had a balance of $4877.47, the debt service account balance was $23,866.62, and the MMDA sewer account was at $30,002.04.