Luther board approves ARPA allocation for Mill Pond park, prioritizes bridge repair

President Andy Treiber told the Village of Luther board on Sept. 10 that $26,276.15 in ARPA funds must be allocated by December 2024 and led a discussion on using the money for park improvements.

The board focused on two park targets: the pavilion and the bridge at Mill Pond. Treiber said the bridge should take priority while the Community Improvement Committee pursues county grant support to supplement village spending. Dennis Karczynski, a resident who brought photos of Lincoln Creek Road earlier in the meeting, told the board he believed a county ARPA grant had an expiration in 2025 or 2026; Treiber asked village volunteers to reapply to Lake County if necessary.

Connie Holmes moved to allocate the ARPA funds to repairs at Mill Pond — with the bridge given first priority — and James Bacon seconded. The motion passed on a roll-call vote (Yes: Carlson, Holmes, Bacon, Treiber, Goodman, Clark, Wert).

The board directed the Community Improvement Committee and Clerk Carrie Fansler to follow up with county contacts about the grant timeline and next steps. Fansler said she would reach out to Jodi Nichols regarding the county ARPA grant.

Why it matters: the village must spend or obligate ARPA funds by December 2024; prioritizing the Mill Pond bridge could unlock matching grant opportunities but will require additional grant applications and project scoping before winter.

Next steps: staff and the Community Improvement Committee will pursue the Lake County grant application and scope bridge repairs so the village can obligate the ARPA dollars before the deadline.