County pledges ARPA funds to several infrastructure projects

by SCOT HEISEL
Lake County Leader | August 19, 2021 12:15 AM

Lake County commissioners set into motion several water, sewer and broadband projects throughout the county when they approved distribution of more than $1.5 million in federal COVID relief funding.

Commissioners voted unanimously Aug. 10 to pledge funds to a dozen projects, from Arlee to Woods Bay.

The money is part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package or American Rescue Plan. The $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11.

Before voting, Commissioners Bill Baron, Gale Decker and Steve Stanley met with Shari Johnson of S&J Engineering and Associates, as well as county Chief Financial Officer Scott Beggs to determine which requests were eligible.

It’s the first distribution of COVID relief funds by the county, which has received at least 18 requests so far from municipalities, water districts and other entities.

Johnson has a contract with the county to assist in prioritizing funding requests. Priority was given to projects ready to advance quickly.

“These are the ones we felt we could get through most promptly,” Braggs said Tuesday. He said the approved projects have already had most of the engineering complete and are at least close to hands-on work.

Commissioners put on hold some projects that will be under consideration during subsequent rounds of distribution. There will be at least one more round of funding, possibly more.

The money is a combination of direct funding from the federal government to the county and a separate stream that went from the feds to the state, which is distributed according to criteria spelled out in Montana House Bill 632, which was passed during the most recent legislative session.

Projects that received a green light from commissioners:

Arlee Sewer District: aeration for sewage lagoons.
Jette Meadows Water District: meter replacement, fire hydrants and main line.
Mission Mountain Water: water main, pump, electrical, VFD drive.
Mission Valley Animal Shelter: septic replacement/expansion.
Lake County Transfer Station Planning: class IV landfill expansion liner planning.
Charlo Water/Sewer District: emergency electrical controls and lift station riser.
Ponderilla Hills: water main replacement and meters.
Sheaver Creek/Woods Bay: meter upgrade.
Cemetery District: broadband, potable water system and septic.
North Lake County Public Library: broadband.
Pablo Water/Sewer District: headworks.
Lake County: water/wastewater facility.

Other projects that remain under consideration include requests involving: Lake County 911; Transfer Station construction; Clearwater Heights Water Association; Jette Lake water; Round Butte water; Ronan Fairgrounds water; North Lake County Public Library bathroom remodel; Lake County boat ramp/bathroom; and Arlee Fire and Ambulance.