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Plainfield explains plan to distribute roughly $95,000 in donated recovery funds after storms
Summary
City officials told residents they received more than 400 applications for donated recovery funds and have so far made $5,000 payments to funerals; donations pledged total about $95,000 (less in hand), and remaining funds will be distributed pro rata to applicants with verified receipts.
City administrators detailed how donated recovery funds and a separate city emergency appropriation will be used following recent flash floods that caused fatalities and property damage.
The administration clarified that a $5,000,000 special emergency appropriation discussed at a prior special meeting is a tax‑backed emergency fund to pay city expenses and is legally separate from private donations. Donations pledged so far total about $95,000, but administrators cautioned that the banked amount is lower than the pledged total and that the August 1 deadline for applications was set to allow tallying and verification.
More than 400 residents applied for assistance. The city said it has already used a portion of the donations to make $5,000 payments to funerals. A review committee made up of finance, social services and administration staff is verifying applications (receipts or invoices are required) and will distribute remaining donated funds pro rata as a percentage of each applicant’s verified request. The administration gave an example of proportional distribution (for example, if available funds represented 10% of total verified requests, then each applicant would receive 10% of their verified expense) and said everyone who receives funds will complete a W‑9 and the payments will go through the city’s purchase order and audit process.
Officials also said seniors who qualify will be steered to county repair funds that can provide up to $10,000, reducing the number of applicants on the city’s donation list. Council members and residents asked for transparency in the process, including lists of beneficiaries and audits; the administration said distribution records are public and will follow standard municipal reporting and audit rules.
Residents in public comment expressed frustration about perceived delays in emergency response and requested trauma‑informed outreach and clearer communication about how donations and city funds are being spent.
