Melbourne council allocates $74,610 in remaining ARPA funds to local public-works bills

The Melbourne City Council on Oct. 14 approved a package of financial moves that apply the city's remaining $74,610.77 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to pending local public-works invoices and recorded a separate sewer fund transfer and annual financial filing.

Council approved Resolution 24-10-02 by motion of Councilor Beth Opperman, seconded by Beth Smith. The resolution directs $42,748.77 to InRoads Paving, $12,280 to Needham Excavating, $9,658 to Jetco Repairs & Radio, $2,070 to Double H Concrete for bank curb work, and $7,854 to Double H Concrete for the City Hall approach. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Clerk Mary L. Pothast said the city’s ARPA balance before the allocations was $74,610.77 and listed the individual vendor invoices by date and amount. Councilor Gary Fricke also moved and Councilor Smith seconded a separate Resolution 24-10-03 transferring $25,882.95 from Sewer Checking (610-000-1110) to Sewer Project (611-000-1110) to reconcile project payments; that transfer likewise passed unanimously.

Pothast presented the city’s Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, noting it will be submitted to the Iowa Department of Management and printed in the Oct. 24 issue of the Mid Iowa Enterprise. The council also recorded expense and revenue totals for city funds in the meeting minutes.

The council's action ensures outstanding local vendor invoices tied to public-works projects are paid using ARPA funds while moving sewer expenditures into the appropriate project account. Mayor Cynthia Rae Mansager set a budget amendment hearing for Nov. 11, 2024 at 7 p.m. in the library basement; the clerk will publish notice.