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Calhoun County reallocates ARPA funds to jail mental-health construction, approves related contracts
Summary
The Calhoun County Commission voted Dec. 19 to reallocate unused ARPA funds originally designated for the Clark Road water project to the Jail Mental Health Construction Project and approved related agreements, including a $2,900 MOU for on-site inmate dental services and multiple engineering contracts.
The Calhoun County Commission voted Dec. 19 to reallocate unused American Rescue Plan Act funds previously set aside for the Clark Road water project to the Jail Mental Health Construction Project. The motion to adopt the ARPA reallocation was made by Commissioner Howell, seconded by Commissioner Shears, and carried unanimously by voice vote.
The reallocation was one of several interrelated items the commission approved during the meeting. Administrator Jonathan Gaddy presented an amendment to the ARPA Clark Road agreement to adjust the amount of funds designated to that project; Commissioner Patterson moved to authorize the chairman to sign the amendment once finalized, and Commissioner Howell seconded the motion, which passed unanimously. The record does not specify dollar amounts reallocated.
Also on the agenda, the commission authorized a memorandum of understanding with Mid America Health to provide portable inmate dental services on-site at the county jail “if needed” for a stated cost of $2,900. Commissioner Wilson moved to authorize the chairman to sign the MOU; Commissioner Howell seconded and the motion was approved unanimously.
The commission approved multiple engineering agreements related to infrastructure work that could support capital projects, including Terracon agreements for bridge replacement engineering on West 64th Street and Mitchellville Road and a construction materials engineering and testing contract. County Engineer Rodney McCain clarified that a separate resolution to resurface Old Gadsden Highway is the first step in that project; commissioners adopted that resolution unanimously.
Why it matters: reallocating ARPA funds to the jail mental-health construction project shifts federal recovery dollars from a water project to a correctional facility capital effort, a move that could affect timelines and scope for both projects. The commission did not state the exact amount transferred during the meeting; the record describes the Clark Road amendment as an adjustment and the reallocation as moving unused ARPA funds to the jail project.
Next steps: the commission authorized staff to finalize agreements and sign contracts where noted, and a future agenda item or contract package may include specific dollar figures and project timelines.
