Fair Association to receive $20K in ARPA funds

CRYSTAL FALLS — This month’s general meeting of the Iron County Board of Commissioners, held July 13 at the County Courthouse, saw the board unanimously approve giving $20,000 of the more than $2 million the county has been allocated under the American Rescue Plan Act to the Iron County Fair Association for lost revenue.
“Their (the fair’s) loss of revenue last year was $47,000,” Board Chair Patti Peretto said.
The board had previously approved a $242,000 bid from Johnson Controls for boiler and HVAC replacements (contingent upon the firm’s word that such expenses are permitted under ARPA) and $60,000 to 906 Technologies for a new server for the Sheriff’s Office and Register of Deeds, also under the expectation the money could come from ARPA funds. Ultimately, the latter was deemed a critical need and approved with the hope, though no guarantee, it could be funded through ARPA.
Meanwhile, the Iron County Economic Chamber Alliance still awaits an answer on its request last May for $36,000. (County funding for the agency ended at the end of 2019.) Commissioners have voiced support for the ICECA and intent to fund it with ARPA money, though a no tangible financial commitment has been made.
The commission announced at its June 8 general meeting the formation of a special committee to review the parameters within which the funds could be used and identify potential projects or agencies toward which to put the money. Since then, the committee has met twice to workshop ideas in addition to a larger meeting with the board of commissioners held June 28.
According to Finance Committee Chair Michael Stafford, the board of commissioners is currently vetting consulting firms to help guide the county on determining and tracking how the money is spent.
“This is critical, as the federal government is very strict on documentation requirement(s) and reporting requirements,” Stafford said in an email to the Reporter. “We do have a list of projects initially hoping to utilize the funds for but need to wait for the consultants to confirm what is eligible and what is not.
“...It is expected that the spending parameters will loosen as time goes on, but for now we are limited to loss of revenue reimbursement, infrastructure, and first responders type of expenses,” he continued.
The first half of the money was distributed to the county in June, with the second half expected to be distributed in March 2022.
The board also addressed the following matters:
• The board unanimously approved updates to its standard operating procedure for accounts payable processing, allowing the finance committee (in addition to the county administrator) to approve payments prior to disbursement.
• The board voted unanimously to approve a letter of support for the Iron Baraga Conservation District’s grant application to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to prevent the spread of invasive species (specifically Japanese Barberry) in Iron, Gogebic and Ontonagon counties.
• The board unanimously approved an update to the standard operating procedure for handling requests for subordination agreements as related to aid for housing rehabilitation. Property owners will need to pay a $500 fee before the county will hear a request for a subordination agreement.
• The board approved through voice vote a resolution supporting the U.P. Area Agency on Agency’s annual implementation plan for serving area seniors.
• After meeting in closed session, the board returned to open session and voted unanimously to authorize civil counsel to take judicial action against EDC Cornerstone LLC, in regard to a dispute over late fees for a 2009 economic development loan.
The next meeting of the Iron County Board of Commissioners will be held Aug. 10 at 4 p.m. at the Iron County Courthouse in Crystal Falls.