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Cameron County commissioners approve three Act 13 allocations including $50,000 match for recreation center
Summary
The board approved three Act 13 awards — $9,218.42 to a volunteer fire department, $27,095.58 in phased funding for Guy Merrifelt Manor (elevator and partial camera funding), and a $50,000 county match to the ME Foundation for recreation center renovations — by unanimous voice votes.
Cameron County commissioners on April 2 voted unanimously to approve three allocations from the county’s Act 13 fund, tapping roughly $86,314 of the remaining balance to support public safety, housing safety upgrades and a recreation center renovation match.
The board approved $9,218.42 for emergency response equipment and safety gear for the Cinema Honing volunteer fire department, including radios and pagers, after a motion by Commissioner James (S2) and a second from another commissioner. “I need a motion to approve the Sonoma Hone volunteer fire department request for $9,218.42,” the chair (S1) said before the board carried the motion by voice vote.
The board then debated a request from Guy Merrifelt Manor for $46,180.58 toward a $50,000 project that included a $29,085 camera system and $17,095.58 in elevator upgrades. Members expressed concern about spending a large share of Act 13 funds at once and proposed phasing camera purchases while ensuring necessary accessibility improvements. Commissioner James amended a motion to approve $27,095.58 — an amount intended to cover the elevator door and a phased contribution toward cameras — which was seconded and approved by unanimous voice vote.
Finally, commissioners approved a $50,000 county allocation to match a $50,000 grant from the ME Foundation to complete cosmetic elements of a recreation center renovation that had been scaled back when the project prioritized sustainable, educational and IT-focused upgrades. The chair said the match will help finish parts of the project cut from the original scope.
Board members discussed the county’s remaining Act 13 balance ($121,873.56) and noted reserves remain for other county needs; they also encouraged applicants to pursue block grants for larger capital projects. All three motions passed by voice vote with no recorded roll-call tally in the transcript.
Next steps: recipients will be notified to finalize paperwork and the county will track grant expenditures and future requests as the next allocation period begins in July.
