Board hears status updates on ARPA projects; staff recommends holding several appropriations

Johnson County staff updated the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 5 about a slate of projects funded with American Rescue Plan Act dollars, reporting reaches toward full obligation, near-term expenditure deadlines, and recommended next steps for projects that remain unexpended.

Allison Weld, ARPA program manager, and Ilsa DeWald, Johnson County local food and farm manager, gave project-by-project updates. Staff said Department 37 projects have been reported as obligated in the Treasury Portal but many are still being expended. Internal county guidance calls for Department 37 projects to meet the county’s internal obligation and expenditure timeline: an internal expenditure deadline of June 30, 2026, and the federal expenditure deadline of Dec. 31, 2026.

Ilsa described pivots on the New Century Farm site plan work: Confluence is under contract for planning and design, a previously approved equipment storage building triggered major site-plan and fire-access requirements, and staff are exploring shifting architectural design funds to site and stormwater design. Ilsa said staff remain confident they can spend appropriated construction funds (roughly $500,000 originally allocated for construction) if they reach agreement with the City of Iowa City on a gravel internal roadway and align with adjacent roadway upgrades.

Other projects discussed: - Language access plan: staff reported an RFP draft and $85,000 ARPA allocation. The DEI coordinator said the plan and associated technology purchases can be contracted so expenditures can meet ARPA deadlines; she recommended pausing active procurement until FY 2026 staffing capacity improves but expects contracting to meet federal deadlines. - Family Resource Center: originally $900,000 proposed in a nonprofit grant program, the project moved into Department 37. Staff said a fiscal agent (a nonprofit) has been identified, a draft county agreement is under review by the county attorney, and staff expect a single land-purchase expenditure when ready. - Commercial kitchen: described as a ‘sponge’ project; staff said current appropriation (~$1.1M scaled toward $1.6–1.7M total depending on contingencies) may be adjusted as bids and change orders become known. - Ken Park water-quality retainage: staff reported a late request to pay approximately $43,000 of contract retainage and proposed shifting funds from Department 37 sponge projects if needed.

Staff recommended maintaining several appropriations while continuing to push remaining Department 37 projects to obligation and expenditure consistent with Department 35 timelines. The ARPA team said they will follow up with project owners and provide the next comprehensive update in April.

Ending: Supervisors asked staff to continue quarterly check-ins with project owners and to return with obligation and expenditure detail at the next reporting cadence; no formal budget shifts were approved at the Feb. 5 work session.