Griggs County commissioners obligate ARPA funds for new county software and approve AV upgrade

Griggs County commissioners voted Dec. 16 to obligate part of the county's federal COVID-relief (ARPA) allocation to purchase new financial software and to upgrade the commissioners' audio/video system used for meetings.

The board approved using $65,000 from the county's ARPA/COVID account to pay for conversion to CPT (Counties Providing Technology) software and later voted to authorize about $40,000 for an audio/video and tablet package to improve meeting recordings and the county's planned livestreaming. Commissioners said both steps are intended to meet federal ARPA deadlines and reduce future recurring costs.

Why it matters: federal ARPA rules require counties to obligate funds to projects by the end of calendar 2024 and to have spending completed by 2026, county staff told commissioners during the meeting. County staff said Griggs County's ARPA/COVID account contained roughly $362,199.33 that must be obligated by the end of 2024; an additional LATCF/LATCP account of about $100,000 is not subject to the same restrictions and was left unallocated.

The CPT software payment: A county staff member told the board the county must replace its existing financial software because the current vendor is retiring; CPT will host the general ledger and payroll beginning Jan. 1. Commissioner Steph made a motion to use the ARPA-designated COVID account to pay the $65,000 CPT contract. The motion was seconded and approved by roll call vote; the minutes record the vote as carried.

Audio/video system and livestreaming: Commissioners also approved roughly $40,000 for a combined audio, video and tablet package for the commission chamber so meetings can be livestreamed and recorded reliably. County staff presented bids that included tabletop microphones, new amplifiers and a video upgrade the vendor said would replace equipment no longer supported. Commissioners said the current recordings have intermittently cut out and that reliable livestreaming will improve public access.

Funding and bookkeeping: County staff displayed a liability/project spreadsheet during the meeting showing prior commitments. After the CPT obligation and earlier Vanguard software commitments, staff said the remaining ARPA/COVID balance stood near $206,076.87 (figure presented by staff at the meeting). Commissioners said they intend to over‑obligate the list of projects internally to allow for re‑obligation if a project later becomes fully funded by grant money; staff clarified any re‑obligation must relate to a project the county had planned before the ARPA obligation deadline.

What the board voted: The minutes record two formal votes on money during the session: the $65,000 CPT obligation from the ARPA/COVID account, and the roughly $40,000 audio/video/tablet purchase to also come from the ARPA/COVID funds. Both motions carried.

Next steps: Staff said they will arrange contracts and order in-stock items as vendors confirm availability, and will return to the board with MOUs and documentation required for ARPA reporting. Commissioners also asked staff to maintain a single running spreadsheet of obligations and remaining balances so the board can track re‑obligation options if outside grants fund portions of these projects.

The meeting also included extended discussion of other potential ARPA projects (courtroom/door access and cameras, sheriff vehicle, road department equipment) but those items were discussed for prioritization and were not adopted as formal obligations at this session.