Remaining ARPA funds to be spent on jail project

Shawano County’s remaining $1.5 million in federal COVID funds have been earmarked with five months to spare.

County officials had until Dec. 31 to declare where the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds would be spent.

A project at the jail that has expanded and seen estimated costs skyrocket more than 350% from the original will be the recipient of the funds, as agreed to by the Shawano County Executive Committee on July 17.

“We did get the majority of the estimates in for the controllers,” said Jim Davel, the county’s administrative coordinator. “Quite frankly, if we decided not to use the remaining ARPA money for the controllers, our options are to borrow the money or to go into the general fund, both of which would have significant impacts on the 2025 budget.”

He recommended using all of the remaining ARPA funds for the project.

This project is to replace the controls and building automation system of the jail and sheriff’s department heating, ventilation and air conditioning units.

Carrie Buntjer, county finance director, said the initial quote for the controller project was $851,685. Since then, additional items are recommended to be completed in conjunction with the controls. This includes replacing the indoor air handling systems.

“The initial funding through CIP (Capital Improvement Projects) was $415,000 for the project,” she said. “And then, if we move over the remaining ARPA funds of $1.5 (million), we’ve got $1.9 (million) in funds for the project. The $1.8 (million in estimates) has a contingency, but there could also be additional things that come up as they get into it as well, so we want to make sure we have enough money.”

The estimate is currently at $1,855,000, which includes a contingency amount.

“These are estimates,” said Tom Kautza, county board chairman. “These are not actual bids.”

Buntjer said ARPA funds will be used first and then the $415,000 set aside as the CIP funds. CIP funds would be reduced if the bids are lower than the estimates.

When deciding to use the remaining ARPA funds for the jail project, other projects requested to be funded with that money were also discussed.

Davel said proposed new court equipment would be added to the clerk of courts budget request for 2025. A new dive team trailer for the sheriff’s department is part of that department’s 2025 budget request.

Installation of antennas at the Leopolis communication tower was completed with funds pulled from the 2024 budget.

“We didn’t get the estimate for the parks remodeling,” Davel said. “That was to move Keith (Marquardt, parks director) out of the house and to build some office space above the pavilion. The overall intent was to use the house as a Vrbo (an online marketplace for vacation rentals).”

A new metal roof at the library will cost $81,000. The library board has a fund balance of about $85,000. Davel said the board will meet to discuss using part of all of the balance to pay for the roof, although they initially favored a new asphalt roof at about $60,000.

The cost to retain the wood log siding at Lakeland Industries is about $60,000, while the estimates to replace the logs with a different siding would be about $300,000, Davel said.

Davel suggested this be discussed in 2025 as part of a CIP project to give officials time to devise alternatives to help reduce the estimated costs.

Kautza reminded committee members the new roof at the Crawford Center will see a savings of $100,000 due to not going with the alternate bid for additional insulation. Part of all of this could be used for the library roof or siding at Lakeland Industries, he said.

kpasson@newmedia-wi.com