Board approves ARPA-enabled match for two trail grants; ARPA spending update given

Finance staff reported to commissioners that the county has expended approximately $11,300,000 of a $14,400,000 ARPA allocation and is on track for the expansion deadline; staff reviewed ARPA straight and ARPA-enabled project statuses and proposed using ARPA-enabled funds as the local match for two recent trail grants. "We have spent $11,300,000 of our $14,400,000 total allocation," Will Kerwin (speaker 15) said, and noted several CIP projects have begun or are nearing contract phases.

Kerwin described ARPA-enabled funds remaining in the unallocated pot (about $1,200,000 at the end of June) and proposed allocating ARPA-enabled funds as matching funds for the Deep River State Trail feasibility grant (a $75,000 match referenced) and for a larger trail improvement grant (about $152,000 match described), arguing both were appropriate uses of ARPA-enabled funds. The board moved, seconded and unanimously approved the ARPA-enabled matches for the listed grants.

Kerwin also updated the board on ARPA-enabled program spending pipelines (EHAP continuing via ARPA-enabled local funding, county fiber extensions nearing completion for county buildings) and noted the detention center shell-space build-out design phase will begin in FY26; staff said they would continue reporting status updates in subsequent meetings.