Madison County Board approves dozens of ARPA appropriations, including $6 million for Lake Drive and $8.5 million for Bethalto sewer project

Madison County’s Board on Dec. 15 unanimously approved a set of immediate emergency appropriations drawn from American Rescue Plan Act funds to pay for building upgrades, public‑safety improvements and several large infrastructure projects.

The board’s Finance and Government Operations Committee presented the items and the full board voted to adopt them. The largest single appropriations included $6,000,000 for a Lake Drive stormwater project and $8,500,000 to construct a sewer interceptor serving Bethalto and Wood River Township, both categorized as ARPA‑eligible storm‑water or sewer projects.

Other approved ARPA items include $1,211,953 for engineering on the Long Lake–Elm Slough outfall; $105,325 for the Long Lake MCT Schoolhouse Trail Bridge; $1,200,000 for a new jail intake area and sally port; $250,000 for boilers and generators at the Administration Building; $150,000 for HVAC replacement at the Juvenile Detention Home; $150,000 to add HEPA filtration and UV‑C to jail ventilation systems; and $700,000 for drinking‑water grants to rural water districts.

The board also approved Coroner‑office purchases — $42,000 for an incinerator and $64,323 for morgue equipment — and funds for building projects including a $225,000 architectural contract for an Annex renovation (previously approved by Facilities). Finance Chair Chris Guy presented the appropriations and said the expenditures fall within ARPA’s covered categories.

Members raised procedural and oversight questions. County Board member Erica Harriss said she was “looking forward to in the future seeing these plans a little more hashed out in the Facilities meeting” and asked for more committee‑level review on large allocations. Board member Matt King called the sewer and storm‑water projects “great projects” that fulfill ARPA’s intent to invest in infrastructure.

Votes and next steps: The Finance committee’s bundle of resolutions passed on roll call (most votes recorded as AYES 28, NAYS 0 on the appropriations reported). Departments will proceed with design and procurements where applicable; several projects require subsequent engineering and construction bids and may return to committees for contracting authorizations.

Votes at a glance: the board recorded formal, roll‑call approval for the ARPA appropriation package and related items on Dec. 15. Other items approved the same day included zoning special permits, courthouse and IT purchases, and the award of architectural services for the Annex renovation.

The board recessed until Jan. 19, 2022. Funding authorizations adopted on Dec. 15 become part of the FY2022 project schedule; many projects will require further committee oversight and procurement steps before work begins.