MOUNT VERNON — Earlier this month, the City of Mount Vernon received the second round of funding, $850,000, through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
The city received the first $850,000 in June 2021 for a total of $1.7 million. The city must spend the money by 2026.
Auditor Terry Scott said that as of June 30, the city has spent $80,544.93. A rebuild of the water and wastewater services on East Chestnut Street between North Main and Gay streets and the water feed to the Plaza Building at 5 N. Gay St. account for $79,594.93.
The remaining $950 went toward water utility service connection for Plant #2 at Cooper Progress Park.
Approximately $455,000 is not yet allocated.
“It is very possible that we will be looking at safe water as well as wastewater improvements once we get further into the process,” Scott said.
The city has neither deleted from nor added to the initial project list, although Scott said the city “continues to filter through the revised regs looking for opportunities that may apply to our community.”
“There has not been any change in the appropriations,” he said. “We did receive our second distribution, and I will be asking council to appropriate these funds in the event that we do have a need for programs and/or services that we had not initially thought of.
“I do expect that we will be looking at our safety forces to determine if there are any operational costs that would apply toward the elimination of COVID-related issues that they are still experiencing.”
Scott said that it is possible that projects could lap over into 2025.
“This is permissible if the funds are secured prior to Dec. 31, 2024,” he said. “This would allow for a project or project to reach as far as Dec. 31, 2026.”
In addition to its $1.7 million in federal ARPA money, the city received $1.75 million from the county’s ARPA funding. The $1.75 million will go toward water, sewer, and stormwater projects. It is anticipated that $1 million of it will go toward repair of the Knox Cattle Company dam in The Landings subdivision on Yauger Road.
Following are the projects recommended by the city’s ARPA advisory group and the amounts allocated:
•Childcare: increase/enable greater workforce in Mount Vernon due to the lack of enough childcare providers $10,000
•Clean Water: utility separations at Cooper Progress Park (in-house) $300,000
•Winter Sanctuary: assist with operations and advocacy $10,000 (spread over 3 years)
•West end flood plain study: housing attainment $20,000 (spread over 2 years)
•MVPD Community Advocate: provide social services to trauma victims, mental health & recovery $200,000 (spread over 3 years)
•Utility assistance: housing – keep residents in their homes $5,000 (spread over 3 years)
•Wayfinding signs to downtown & other points of interest: assist with traffic signage design & placement & wayfinding signs $20,000 (spread over 2 years)
•Community Resource Navigator: coordination of services among the non-profit service providers $80,000 (spread over 3 years)
•Food for the Hungry: food insufficiency $2,000 (spread over 3 years)
•Revolving Loan Fund: build businesses & resources; expansion of resources $100,000 (spread over 2 years)
•Storm water drainage Memorial Park: design work to pump water out of the park $30,000 (in years 2022-2023)
•Sidewalks (design work): connecting parks – Martinsburg Road, Stump Street, Clarence Court; and sidewalk repairs $50,000 (in years 2023 – 2024/2025)
•N. Catherine/Chestnut Street: utilities infrastructure (water/wastewater/storm water) $40,000 in 2023
•Alleyway redevelopment design: enhance downtown alleyways — safe, tourist-friendly, walkable pathways, public art, beautification, lighting $35,000 (spread over 2 years)
