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Council approves substitute bill for Rustic Roots network after hours of public support
Summary
After a 45‑minute public forum with around two dozen speakers, the St. Louis County Council approved substitute bill 1 for bill 54 — legislation supporters said would direct previously allocated ARPA funds toward an agri‑village, harvest hub and capacity building for a network of small farms. The measure passed on final passage, 7‑0.
The St. Louis County Council on Tuesday approved substitute bill 1 for bill 54, legislation supporters described as directing previously committed American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to create an agri‑village, a harvest hub and capacity development for a network of small farms in North County. Councilwoman Webb moved final passage; the motion passed in a roll call vote, 7‑0.
Supporters said the bill would create storage, processing and distribution infrastructure for small farmers and seed a coordinated local food system. Speaker testimony at an extended public forum focused on Rustic Roots Sanctuary and six partner farms; many speakers described using the farms for groceries, education and health programs. "I am the founder and the executive director of Rustic Root Sanctuary," Janet Lewis told the council, appealing for passage.
The measure was the subject of an extended public forum. The chair said 24 speakers had registered on the item and set the public‑comment portion at 45 minutes; dozens of residents, farmers and nonprofit representatives testified in favor. Several speakers characterized the substitute bill as an appropriation of roughly $3.2 million to build the agri‑village and harvest hub; one speaker described the proposed appropriation specifically as $3,200,000 during testimony.
Proponents framed the proposal as an ARPA‑era effort to address long‑standing food access gaps in North County. Supporters pointed to a 2022 county decision that set aside funds for food security and told the council those ARPA dollars remain available for projects that increase local food production, distribution and nutrition programs for seniors and children.
Council members asked for implementation details and memoranda of understanding describing how funds would be distributed among partner farms. Several members said they received additional documents during the meeting and asked for time to review them; others said the materials answered key questions about vendor roles and infrastructure uses.
Councilwoman Webb, the bill sponsor, spoke emotionally about the district and urged colleagues to pass the bill now, saying residents and seniors had waited years for the support. "Why do we have to come out here and beg y'all to do right by us?" she said during her remarks.
Council discussion acknowledged both urgency and the need for financial oversight. Several council members said they wanted to make sure distribution and contracting followed county procurement and grant‑management rules. After debate the roll call recorded seven ayes — Bangert, Webb, Archer, Days, Hancock, Carter and Clancy — and no nay votes.
The council and the bill sponsor said staff will provide additional documentation and financial breakdowns during implementation and that the allocation will be administered consistent with existing ARPA constraints. Supporters said the funds will be used for shared cold storage, wash/pack facilities, a harvest‑hub truck/distribution and capacity‑building grants to participating farms.
The final passage of the substitute bill ends the immediate legislative phase; next steps include formal contracting and program startup activities that the council and sponsor said will be detailed for the council and the public as part of implementation oversight.
