The Sedgwick County Commission discussed their American Rescue Plan Act spending plan Wednesday morning.
The county was awarded $100.2 million in ARPA funds in 2021. Around $38 million has been spent so far and the board approved spending plans for the next two years: nearly $46 million in 2023 and an additional $16.2 million in 2024.
The board agreed if any allocated spending for projects not completed this year could roll over to 2024.
One of the bigger projects being addressed by the ARPA funding is the county courthouse remodel, to help clear the court backlog created by the pandemic.
To add the additional courtrooms and office space, a number of county departments have moved to the downtown Ruffin Building. The HR department will be next, as the board approved a 25-month lease agreement that will complete the move from the Historical Courthouse to the Ruffin building’s first floor.
While Commissioner David Dennis agreed with the move, he questioned why the county needed more office and parking space with a number of employees working a hybrid or remote schedule.
Work on the new offices should be finished by June. The lease agreement will cost the county an additional $114,800 per year, to be paid for with ARPA funding.
The county will be purchasing new ambulances and other vehicles, thanks to a grant from the federal government.
Commissioners approved a $1.8 million Assistance to Firefighters Grant, to purchase four ambulances and four support vehicles for county operations.
The grant was awarded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).