Decatur County wellness board recommends $80,000 to ARC contingent on RecoveryWorks participation, denies Foundations for Recovery initial request
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Summary
The Decatur County Wellness Board agreed to forward an $80,000 recommendation to the county commissioners to help ARC refinance loans, with release contingent on proof the ARC is actively participating in RecoveryWorks; the board also denied Foundations for Recovery’s initial grant application but invited a revised submission.
At a wellness board meeting, members voted to forward an $80,000 grant recommendation to the Decatur County commissioners for ARC’s debt-reduction and refinancing plan, contingent on the nonprofit showing it is qualified for and receiving RecoveryWorks funds.
The board’s chair said, “The 80,000, go to the commissioners with that, which we're still being contingent upon,” and members discussed structuring the payment to protect county funds until ARC demonstrated client enrollment and the RecoveryWorks revenue stream. One member announced an abstention during the vote; the motion carried.
Board members discussed details of ARC’s request: the nonprofit manages three residential properties and has outstanding loans the group wants to reduce to improve operating stability. ARC representatives said they are seeking $80,000 to reduce debt and refinance, will contribute some of their savings toward the effort, and have hired a full-time director to support operations.
“When our CDs come due in May and June, we will also contribute $6,000,” an ARC representative said, describing how the organization plans to combine grant funds and internal resources to reduce debt and free up operating dollars.
Members debated alternatives including a $60,000 immediate payment, a $69,000 amendment and staged payments tied to RecoveryWorks enrollment. Several board members pressed for contingency language after hearing that RecoveryWorks reimbursements can take time to arrive even after a client is enrolled.
In separate action, the board voted to deny the initial Foundations for Recovery grant request without prejudice, directing staff to inform the applicant that a revised application addressing outstanding questions may be resubmitted. A board member noted the importance of seeing answers to questions about ownership and financial setup before approving large allocations.
The board also approved forwarding a $2,000 request from the Marines Road SAD Club to the commissioners from unrestricted funds and agreed to add a question to the annual survey about potential state Department of Corrections funding cuts that could affect community corrections programs.
The wellness board asked staff to notify the applicants of the decisions and invited ARC and Foundations for Recovery to provide the documentation and proof required to move forward. The board set future meeting dates and closed the session.