County Commission addresses ARPA American Rescue Act Funding

The Lyon County Board of Commissioners addressed the plan to spend almost $5.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act allocations at their regular meeting in Silver Springs on August 19, 2021. Comptroller Josh Foli presented the item with a presentation https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/1021046/American_Rescue_Plan_Act_Presentation.pdf about the funding and how it could be spent and provided the Board with a recommended allocation plan https://legistarweb-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/attachment/pdf/1021046/American_Rescue_Plan_Act_Presentation.pdf

The Board tabled the item after a lengthy discussion on projects the funding could be used for including purchasing ambulances for two fire protection districts, park equipment, Boys and Girls Club in Fernley,  and funding for Food Bank Facility improvements in Dayton. Foli explained that the ARPA funding can be spent under certain guidelines:

• Support public health expenditures.
• Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector.
•  Replace lost public sector revenue.
• Provide premium pay for essential workers.
• Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

The Board considered the recommended plan and asked for further research on allowable expenses to determine if the funding could support the Fire Protection Districts, Parks, Foodbank, and Boys and Girls Club. The Board also questioned spending this first round as presented or addressing the proposed water and sewer funding with the next round of ARPA funding.

The proposed Allocation plan included:

To respond to the COVID-19 public health emergency or its negative impacts:

• Personal Protective Equipment and Supplies 50,000
•  Lyon County Human Services – Indigent Assistance, 500,000 Child Care Assistance, Behavioral Health Support Provide

Premium Pay for Essential Workers Not recommended in this round of funding.

Replace Lost Public Sector Revenue Lyon County currently doesn’t qualify.

Invest in Water, Sewer, and Broadband Infrastructure

• Willowcreek GID Costs 50,000
• Silver Springs GID Costs 300,000
• Lyon County Utility Costs: Rolling A Increase in Capacity 2,000,000
• Rapid Infiltration Basins / Effluent Disposal 1,500,000
• Replace Lift Station 2 with Lift Station 2A 1,000,000

Contingency to be allocated as needed in the future 185,322 Total 5,585,322

The Board will address the Allocation plan their September 2, 2021 Meeting in Yerington