The committee approved a resolution obligating ARPA funds for the county’s bank intercounty drain project and authorized entering into an MOU to create the contractual obligation required under ARPA guidance.

Finance staff and legal counsel explained why an MOU is being used: because the final assessment and invoices are not yet available, the MOU with the drainage district will constitute a contractual obligation so the county can meet the federal Dec. 31 obligation deadline. The packet included a resolution obligating roughly $3,300,000 of ARPA funds for the drain project and staff recommended continuing one housing-support program ($125,000) while reallocating residual ARPA funds to the drain construction costs.

Key fiscal details presented to the committee included the $5,000,000 state grant that staff proposed to apply "off the top" of the drain project so assessments would be reduced; staff estimated annual county savings of approximately $26,110 and annual resident reductions once the grant is applied. The presenter also reported an estimated interest-savings figure for bond life that was stated in the meeting transcript; that figure appears large and may require confirmation.

Other administrative actions: the committee accepted an updated position-approval process for elected offices and approved a recommended public-safety telecommunicator position to address dispatcher shortages (presenter said 6–9 months are required to train a dispatcher and that retirements and deployments could create up to four vacancies out of 16 positions). The committee approved a two-year excess workers' compensation renewal (premium about $104,000, ~30% increase) and authorized a 5% increase to the short-term disability weekly rate cap for 2025. Staff also briefed the committee on audit corrective actions and health-insurance fund balances.

Votes and next steps: The ARPA resolution and MOU were moved and approved by voice vote to obligate funds and to enter the MOU; the committee moved several items (position recommendations, insurance renewals, short-term disability change) forward or approved them as actions. The ARPA obligation will proceed with the formal agreement and the resolution will be forwarded to the full board with the Ways & Means recommendation.

Ending: Staff said obligations must be finalized by Dec. 31 for ARPA compliance, and the committee approved the recommended steps to secure the grant and ARPA application while advancing personnel and benefits items.