Minnehaha County Commission reviews $66 million in external ARPA requests, considers $26.5 million in internal uses

The Minnehaha County Commission met at 8:00 a.m. on Dec. 14, 2021, to review requests for American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and to set next steps for vetting proposals from county departments and external organizations.

Ben Kyte, the county auditor, told commissioners the county had received about $66,000,000 in requests from external organizations, with a large share seeking water and wastewater treatment improvements. Susan Beaman, the county finance and budget officer, summarized internal county requests eligible under current ARPA guidance and estimated those internal requests at about $26,500,000.

The presentations listed a range of department-specific proposals. The Sheriff’s Office identified potential ARPA uses for jail COVID response, including jail salaries tied to COVID management, a registered nurse for the jail, mobile communications upgrades, an additional mental-health counselor, annual COVID medical expenses, COVID-related capital investments and supplies. The Juvenile Detention Center proposed funding for an additional mental-health counselor, cameras and body protection for mental-health holds, and substance-abuse training.

Facilities outlined COVID-mitigation projects such as improved air-exchange systems for multiple buildings, a courthouse front-entrance redesign to support social distancing, improvements to the Human Services and Administration buildings for distancing and sanitation, and security badge upgrades that could help contact tracing; it also requested COVID sanitation salary reimbursement and supplies. Human Resources requested funding for COVID-management salary expenses including contract tracing and employee COVID medical costs.

Human Services sought ARPA funds for rental, utility and burial assistance for households economically affected by COVID; transportation to testing sites for vulnerable populations; direct grants to small businesses and nonprofits that suffered COVID-related hardship; and job training and apprenticeship programs through the local community college that would include case-management training.

The State Attorney’s Office proposed purchasing software aimed at reducing the backlog of court cases and a potential grant program to help businesses improve security systems. The Public Defender’s Office requested funding for an additional contracted resource to help reduce its case backlog. The Commission Office identified possible annual contributions to The Link for mental-health and substance-abuse services, administrative software to support electronic communication and social distancing, and select COVID-mitigation equipment for the Administration Building. Information Technology suggested audio-video upgrades in Commission Chambers to improve remote participation and social distancing. The Highway Department submitted a request related to water infrastructure at a highway shop.

Auditor’s Office staff also described two administrative ARPA uses: administrative software to improve electronic communication (noted as helpful for Freedom of Information Act requests) and an administrative allocation to cover costs of administering ARPA funds. Beaman said that if proposed federal legislation expands allowable uses, county projects could broaden to include Juvenile Detention Center replacement or improvements, fairground upgrades, road and bridge work for the Highway Department, and additional IT projects. She reported known 2021 internal funding uses (excluding jail salaries) totaling $1,100,500.

Commissioners were not recorded taking formal votes on funding during the session. Staff and presenters identified next steps, including potential action on the 2021 eligible expenses at the commission meeting on Dec. 28, 2021 and a future work session to further evaluate ARPA requests and priorities.

In public comment, Dave Baumeister of the Minnehaha Messenger asked the commission to consider providing resources that would enable better local media coverage. The meeting was adjourned and scheduled to reconvene at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021. The minutes were attested by Kym Christiansen, commission recorder, and approved by Dean Karsky, chair.