The Platte County Commission on Dec. 23 approved a series of actions to obligate remaining American Rescue Plan Act money, awarding a renovation contract for the administration and juvenile building and approving multiple ARPA-funded change orders and professional services contracts.

County Administrator West Minder told the commission the bid award for the administration and juvenile building project is the county's final ARPA project and staff recommends awarding the work to Centric Projects after reviewing bids and references. "We have the recommendation to award a bid for the administration and juvenile building project, which is our last arpa project," West Minder said.

County Auditor Kevin Robinson described the accounting and reporting requirements for ARPA funds and urged the commission to back any overages with county reserves to preserve his certification of obligations. Robinson said the county received just over $20 million originally, is now roughly "21,3" million in obligations per staff estimates, and that there remains a contingency need; he warned that "without this action and pursuant to Missouri statutes 50.66 and 55.160, without commitment to this action, I will withdraw my certifications of these funds." The commission agreed to use reserve funding as needed and to continue cleanup for the fourth-quarter report due in early January.

On the Centric Projects commission order (2024c0082 ARPA), a motion to approve the agreement between Platte County and Centric Projects was moved and seconded and the commission approved the order by roll call (motion carries). The contract amount in the transcript is garbled and not specified clearly; staff cited quality and references in recommending Centric over the low bidder by approximately $13,000.

Facilities Director Daniel Erickson presented several ARPA-related change orders and contracts. The commission approved change order number 9 with Access Construction Group for the prosecutor's tenant-finish project to modify the victim advocate space for soundproofing and HVAC changes at a cost of $40,802. Erickson also explained a professional services agreement with Smith and Voucher Incorporated to perform testing and balancing of the detention center HVAC system; that contract was presented at $226,000 and includes funds for identified corrective work following testing.

The commission extended an existing Gordian Group contract with MTS to add tuck pointing work on the courthouse exterior, a contract item listed at $166,923.92, and approved a change order with Stroud Construction that adds exterior door work, a jury box in Division 5 (to reduce construction phasing from six phases to three), and interior reassignments of public administrator and probate offices. West Minder said the courthouse project is expected to be completed in about a year.

All motions described above were moved, seconded and approved by roll call during the meeting. The commission adjourned at 10:33 a.m. and staff said they will continue cleanup and may reconvene if last-minute obligations need to be addressed before the federal deadline.

What happens next: fourth-quarter ARPA reporting to federal agents is due in early January; county staff will finalize any transfers from capital reserves and propose any necessary budget amendments in 2025.