Carbondale staff say ARPA funds were obligated by federal deadline; Boys & Girls Club award returned to city pool

Lee Fronbarger, a Carbondale resident, asked the City Council during public comment whether the city had met federal requirements to obligate $7,858,667 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and what happened to a $518,000 award to the Boys and Girls Club of Southern Illinois.

"The city of Carbondale received $7,858,667 in American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA funds," Fronbarger told the council, citing the federal obligation deadline of Dec. 31, 2024. He asked whether the funds had been obligated and whether grant reports prepared by a consultant were publicly available.

City staff member Davis responded that the city met the obligation deadline. "Yes. We have obligated all of the monies, by 12/31/2024," Davis said. He added that the $518,000 that had been awarded to the Boys and Girls Club was returned to the ARPA pool after the organization declined the award and that about $418,000 in ARPA funds was later used for demolition work.

Davis said the city has received reports from the consultant—identified in the public comment as Municipal Support, Inc./ART—but those reports "are not out on any available website" and said they could be posted for public viewing. He also said the consultant continues to file monthly reports when the city draws on obligated amounts.

Fronbarger had asked whether the money that was declined by the Boys and Girls Club "came back into the city's ARPA funds" and whether consultant deliverables were complete. The staff reply addresses both questions but did not supply detailed line-item accounting at the meeting.

The exchange was part of the public comment period; council members did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting.