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Council gets ARPA spending update: stormwater, parks, cameras and contingency highlighted
Summary
City staff presented the ARPA project tracker showing most funds committed across a range of projects including stormwater remediation, neighborhood parks, public-safety cameras, facility upgrades and a contingency line. The deadline to disburse funds is Dec. 31, 2026.
Ken Carney, who the mayor tasked with administering American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects, gave the council a status update on March 24 and presented a spending tracker that divides projects into "jobs in progress" and "jobs completed." He told the council the administration expects to spend all ARPA funds by the federal deadline of Dec. 31, 2026.
Carney said several projects remain in closeout pending final invoices and paperwork, including the child development roof and the Haley School ramp. He reported remaining balances for categories: approximately $90,000 under financial management (largely credits from a vendor), about $461,000 for neighborhood parks (with bills in the pipeline), roughly $45,000 for the library navigator system, and almost $2,000,000 earmarked for stormwater problem-area projects.
Other projects detailed included city hall window and door replacements (awaiting utility company approvals for electrical equipment access), fire-district aid payments (some adjustments were made administratively), garage annex nearing completion, premium pay and training for fire departments, turf installations complete, bleachers finished but payment withheld pending certified payroll, community facade and arts supports partially paid, and the Painter Park field house and youth employment items moving forward.
Carney said contingency currently sits at about $553,000 and that the administration expects to use unused funds for additional paving unless other priorities arise. He also said about $1.7 million remains in project contingency for the Washington School construction project (discussed separately at the meeting).
Council members asked about specific line items including stormwater work (Carney said the money funds both the CDM Smith study of catch basins and identified flooding projects) and Painter Park field house work (scheduled to start the following Wednesday). Carney reiterated that bills would not be paid without required closeout documentation and that staff were tracking paperwork closely to avoid returning funds.
Ending: Carney told the council he expects no ARPA funds to be returned and that staff are working to meet documentation and closeout requirements ahead of the federal deadline.
