by Kate Shunney
Morgan County Commissioners were up against the clock during their final meetings in December, making sure that any remaining ARPA funds — from the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 – had been committed in contracts for local projects or expenses before December 31, 2024. Under federal guidelines, that COVID stimulus money had to be spent or earmarked to a project under contract before 2025 arrived.
Commissioners approved several contracts in an effort to put the federal funds to local use.
The largest final expenditure will be on a metal 45’ x 120’ building to be constructed by The Pines Opportunity Center.
That structure will house the Morgan County Facilities department, will act as a secondary Emergency Operations Center for the Morgan County Office of Emergency Services and will be the new home of the Morgan County Emergency Communications Network, a local ham radio network with an agreement to provide secondary emergency communications to the county.
OES Director Jason Hoover late last month presented commissioners with final contract numbers of construction of the building.
They approved a contract of $148,658 with Timberline Pole Buildings, a $48,264 contract with GHS for concrete work on the building pad and site and a $45,000 contract with GHS for excavation, gravel, parking lot and drainage work on the building site. All funds will come from the ARPA account.
LED boards
Commissioners also approved a bid for two LED message boards to be purchased for the Office of Emergency Services through a $35,000 Homeland Security grant.
The county received a bid of $26,984 for the boards, with additional costs for a five-year software subscription to program and manage the board displays, all totaling $36,484 in payments to All Traffic Solutions.
