Waycross will use about $82,000 accumulated in interest from its American Rescue Plan Act fund on repairs and upgrades at City Hall.
City Manager Ulysses “Duke” Rayford asked the City Commission earlier this month for the OK to use the money to address a variety of building needs. He said the structure has some leaky windows and is in need of paint inside and out as well as flooring and carpet at various locations, including in Commission Chambers.
The city received $5.033 million in ARPA funds in 2021. That money must be used or in the process of disbursement by December 31, 2024.
Rayford also told commissioners at their planning and information session September 3, the city will also likely have additional money from the fund for other needs before the end of the year.
He said $100,000 budgeted for a water study was only going to cost about $25k. A transportation study pegged at $250k was only going to be in the $100k to $150k neighborhood by partnering with Ware County on the process.
The city and county held a meeting September 9 to begin the specifics of the joint transporation plan.
“Once we get an idea for our part of that, I think we’ll have about $200,000 non-appropriated (funds) we can use,” Rayford said.
ARPA funds were awarded to municipalities during the coronavirus pandemic for specific use such as payroll shortfall from the impacted tax base, equipment for first responders, infrastructure needs and citizen recreation among a host of others. Waycross was among only a small number of cities to transfer part of its award to citizens.
The city allotted $1.283 million for citizens to use for businesses and residences. The last of the money was awarded earlier this year for home and business improvements.
A portion of the money remaining from original ARPA appropriations for equipment was approved by commissioners for a sidearm mower. Bids will be sought for the mower which will be used to cut vegetation in the city’s nearly 29 miles of drainage canals.
Public Works Director James Smart estimated the cost at around $200,000. He said there is a staff person qualified to operate the device so no additional funds would be needed for personnel or training.
Commissioners were told the city will initiate a pilot program to determine the effectiveness of the transmitters in the water meters. ESG engineer Charlie Bridges said about 25 meters across the system will be involved in the test.
Depending on the outcome, the city may need to replace only the transmitters in the meters rather than be tasked with replacement of all the meters that were installed just a few years ago. Bridges said the replacement transmitters to be tested have worked well in the same meters used by other cities, meaning a smaller outlay of funds to realize proper meter function.
He said right now between 600 and 800 meters must be read by hand. The city has about 6,000 residential and commercial water/sewer customers.
