Advisory panel recommends $60,000 for The Arc van, $25,000 to Esperanza if matching funds appear

An advisory group recommending opioid-related grant awards voted to recommend $60,000 to The Arc to purchase a 15-passenger van and to recommend $25,000 to Esperanza contingent on a matching award from other grant opportunities.

The Arc asked the advisory group for start-up transportation funding and originally outlined a larger $150,000 plan that included a dedicated driver, insurance, fuel and maintenance. An Arc representative said, “the breakdown of the $150,000 was for the driver, the insurance and plates, gas, and then just some general maintenance.” The advisory group’s recommendation narrows that request: the group voted to recommend $60,000 for purchase of a vehicle only.

The group discussed Esperanza’s separate opportunity to access a matching grant. An Esperanza representative said the organization had proposed that Esperanza receive the originally requested amount of $50,000 and that the organization could donate two existing vehicles — a 15-passenger van and a 2014 Chrysler Town & Country — to help The Arc if the county awarded Esperanza funds. The representative acknowledged the vehicles’ age and mileage and said the donation was an attempt to leverage available funds.

Judge Day, who chaired the advisory meeting, reminded attendees that the advisory body makes recommendations only; the county commissioners make final funding decisions. “All we do is we take the applications. We discuss them. We vote on who we are gonna recommend. The commissioners make the final choice,” Judge Day said.

Discussion at the meeting touched on program sustainability and grant mechanics. The Arc said it preferred to hire a single contracted driver (at $10.99 an hour in the plan they presented) while allowing two co-directors to drive as backups. The Arc also said it serves about 30 participants at a time and planned trips ranging from local runs to occasional out-of-town transports for appointments and program referrals; the group questioned the size of the fuel budget the Arc had proposed.

Advisors also explored whether Esperanza could combine its match opportunity with county funds to create a shared service. Members were told that the matching-grant rules likely would not allow co-ownership or shared staffing tied to the match. The panel noted a deadline for one external application on Oct. 6 and concluded tabling Esperanza’s request would forfeit the matching chance.

On motions: Bailey moved to recommend $60,000 to The Arc for purchase of a 15-passenger van; Matt Hoying seconded and the motion carried. Sheriff Myrose moved to recommend $25,000 to Esperanza for transportation contingent on a like amount being made available through other grant opportunities; Abby seconded. The motion carried with one recorded negative vote. Meeting participants noted that both awards would be drawn from the unrestricted portion of the opioid funds.

Advisors asked staff to prepare an overall summary for the commissioners showing total restricted and unrestricted balances, awards already made, and the panel’s recommendations. The panel said it would present the recommendations to the county commissioners at an upcoming meeting for final approval.

The advisory group did not adopt any long-term directive to co-locate transportation services or to jointly operate vehicles; members instead encouraged further informal coordination among the local providers.

Source and next steps: The advisory panel’s recommendation will be placed on the commissioners’ agenda; commissioners have the final authority to approve, modify or deny the awards.