ARPA panel meets Thursday

In November and December, commissioners voted to use ARPA funding for mold remediation work in the basement of the North Annex building, and to use ARPA funds to demolish the former furniture store building adjacent to the new probation/public defender office when construction is complete.

County Attorney Jason Spindler, Commissioner Warren Fleetwood, Auditor Mike Watkins and County Councilman Jay Riley are the ARPA panel members who recommend projects for funding, and the commissioners make the final decision on who gets funding.

Thus far, commissioners have these projects for ARPA funds:

• $910,000 to replace patrol vehicles for the Gibson County Sheriff’s Office

• $800,000 to build a new shelter for Gibson County Animal services on county owned property between the compost yard and the Gibson County Highway Department.

• $710,000 to replace dump trucks, and to purchase stone and gravel and mowers for the Gibson County Highway Department.

• $200,000 for security technology, paving and demolition work on the Gibson County Public Defender/Probation building project.

• $141,500 for a drug and alcohol treatment program for Gibson County Jail inmates, with services to be provided by Gibson County Health Department. If a grant is obtained to provide the services, the money will be returned to the ARPA fund.

• $9,645 for an automatic door opener for the Gibson County Council on Aging Center

• $47,825 for a 2022 GMC Sierra 4x4 pickup equipped for Gibson County Animal Services for animal transport

• $4,000 for an asset management program for the Gibson County Auditor’s office that is required by the State Board of Accounts

• $662,324 to purchase vehicles, generator and power loads for Gibson County Emergency Medical Service

• $8,900 for technology upgrades to the Gibson County Auditor’s office

• $3,601.20 for a laser jet printer and accessories for the Gibson County Assessor’s Office

• $1,281.57 for a Microsoft Surface Pro laptop and mobile printer for the Gibson County Assessor’s Office

• $330,299 for upgrades to Hopkins Family Park (fencing, basketball court, paving walking trails, shelter house, concrete pad for picnic tables, disc golf, pickle ball, trees and signage)

• $36,750 for repairs and maintenance of the Red Covered Bridge and Wheeling Covered Bridge

• $65,000 in technology and furniture upgrades for Gibson Circuit and Gibson Superior Courts

• $171,916 for construction and renovation to the Gibson County magistrate chambers and courtroom in the basement level of the courthouse

• $14,820 for furniture, routers and printers in the Gibson County Public Defender/Probation building

• up to $28,000 for fire department grain bin safety and rescue equipment and training

• $800,000 for premium pay for eligible full-time employees who have worked for the county since March 3, 2021. Elected officials, part time and state-funded employees are not eligible for the pay, which is estimated at $4,000 per employee.

Requests which have not been funded include: $68,000 for a generator for Gibson County Council on Aging generator; $900,000 for a new Gibson County Health Department; $119,500 for Gibson County Economic Development’s “Go Gibson” campaign; $1 million for county road paving; $42,369 for a new Weights and Measures vehicle (which may be replaced with a vehicle from the sheriff’s office); $55,000 for a security system and furniture for the Gibson County Prosecutor’s Office; and $89,462 to replace the North Annex roof.