Moore Haven council approves bills, ARPA-funded purchases including $4,360 landscaping plan

The Moore Haven City Council on Aug. 20 approved bills totaling $186,183.10 and several purchases charged to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, including a $4,360 plant purchase for a landscape plan connected to a recent project.

During the meeting councilor Marcus “Marc” Decker questioned several line items on the bills list. Public Works Superintendent Brad Simmons explained a straw hat purchased for parks staff was intended to protect workers installing new trash cans during high heat and said a clutch replacement was required after an installation burned up a newer clutch; he said the operator is now trained on the repair.

The minutes record separate motions to approve ARPA-funded payments: Vice Mayor Jacob Eighner moved approval of an Amazon invoice listed on the agenda (the agenda lists $390.18 but the motion authorizes $309.18 from ARPA funds); the motion carried on the record without a roll-call tally. Alisha Beck moved to approve Aclarian invoice #2526 for $780 from ARPA funds; the motion carried. Later in the meeting, Marcus Decker moved and Bradley Smith seconded approval of Montura Gardens invoice #2058 for $4,360, with City Manager Larry Tibbs saying the purchase "was not budgeted but if considered part of the project we can use ARPA funding to fund this." The motion carried.

The minutes do not include detailed vendor invoices or a line-by-line budget reallocation in the record. The council did not record a roll-call tally for these motions; minutes note only "Motion Carried." The City Clerk’s office provided authority for staff to arrange payment agreements for residents with disputed utility bills if meter readings are verified.

The approvals finalize payments listed on the agenda and authorize the specified ARPA-funded purchases as recorded in the meeting minutes.