ARPA funds largely spent; county weighing sewer design options for coroner project and council presses nonprofit shelter lead for plan

Lancaster County staff reported the status of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects and described design hurdles slowing the coroner’s design-build project while urging the nonprofit leader seeking shelter funds to submit a firm plan.

“The county received approximately $19,000,000 and there were 34 projects,” ARPA program manager Miss Snowden told council. She said four projects remain in process: the coroner’s design-build (approximately $2,700,000 allocated), EMS headquarters bay construction (about $542,000), sheriff’s evidence storage (about $1,600,000), and a $100,000 ARPA nonprofit allocation (with roughly $36,000 remaining in process for nonprofits). To date “$15,200,000 of the $19,000,000 has been expended,” Snowden said; about $3,800,000 remained encumbered and not executed.

Snowden said Fern Creek Group, the coroner’s project manager, ordered the building to avoid tariffs but Lancaster Water and Sewer District later asked for additional sewer routing scenarios. Snowden told council the district did not refuse cooperation outright but requested three or four additional designs; the county’s contractor is now producing alternatives, and staff are also evaluating a temporary septic option to allow the project to proceed while a permanent sewer solution is finalized. Snowden said her team is concerned about design delays because ARPA funds must be expended by Dec. 31, 2026.

Council members pressed for clarity on responsibility and timing. A council member asked, “We will not have a signed permit until we actually are able to show a completed design of where sewer will run,” to which Snowden replied that the permit requires a completed sewer design. Staff said they will continue to coordinate with the Fern Creek Group and Lancaster Water and Sewer District and will escalate as appropriate.

Council also discussed a previously allocated ARPA nonprofit award tied to temporary housing efforts. Several council members urged the nonprofit lead (identified in meeting discussion as Holly) to come before council with a clear plan, timelines and additional funding strategies. Snowden and council encouraged Holly to present a realistic execution plan; council members said they would need to see a viable plan before allowing the county to leave funds encumbered.

Snowden told council she will schedule a follow-up presentation by the nonprofit leader and will continue to work with the coroner’s project manager and Lancaster Water and Sewer District to finalize sewer options and keep the ARPA schedule on track.