Lincoln County commissioners this week adopted a resolution authorizing and designating American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as revenue replacement.
The county is projected to receive about $6.7 million in ARPA funds. A representative of the law firm that commissioners earlier hired to guide and direct them with spending the funds explained, “You’re not locked in. This resolution allows you to do that if you choose to do it.”
He explained the county has received about half of the funds it is supposed to receive and the other half will come later this year.
He cautioned them, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. And don’t treat it as a blank check.”
In a related agenda item, the commissioners also voted unanimously to set a deadline of June 30 this year for all requests to be submitted for use of those funds.
That was after considerable discussion.
The law firm representative advised the commissioners that six requests had come in by email and a couple of others had been received online.
He informed commissioners that, “If you funded each of those 100 percent, and you don’t have to do that and we don’t advise that, they would total about $5 million.”
He suggested to them they make the requesting entity submit a Purchase Order before the funds are disbursed.
Commissioners were also told, “You must make them go through sub award reporting.”
They were further informed that none of the projects submitted so far seemed to be problematic.
In other business, commissioners: Approved the Oklahoma ABLE Commission Public Event application for Pig Fest 2022 at Rainbow Valley Ranch in Wellston.
Agreed to allow the sheriff’s office to apply for the 2022-23 Safe OK Grant.
Approved amending the adopted Employee Handbook.
Approved Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority Certificates of Compliance for Liang 900155 LLC, Lost Boys Cultivation LLC, Green Grove Grow Inc., Fire Sky Gardens LLC and Glass House Productions LLC.
Also approved OMMA renewal of Certificates of Compliance for Oklahoma Plants and Vegetables LLC and Green Herbs LLC.
Adopted a resolution appointing requesting, receiving, inventory officers for the Meeker Nutrition Site.