At the Nov. 1 Jefferson County Commissioner meeting, commissioners approved $30,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for both Boulder and Whitehall water and sewer departments.
The ARPA funds came available after Cardwell Elementary returned the funding it had been allocated, as it was able to fix its well instead of replace it.
“We initially gave Basin and Clancy each $250,000 of our almost $900,000 of the main ARPA money that we had available, so when this $60,000 became available we wanted to be fair,” Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch told The Monitor.
Kirsch said Boulder and Whitehall had not yet received any ARPA funds from the county.
Nevertheless, the timing was challenging, Kirsch said, as Cardwell backed out just a few days before the Nov. 1 allocation deadline. This being the case, commissioners had to act fast, making sure they got the item on the agenda so they could make the necessary motion.
“Great West Engineering had been working on all the minimum allocation funding the county was able to allocate to water/sewer districts, and we needed to authorize them to reallocate the funds so they could submit an application before Nov. 1,” Kirsch said. “This one just kind of snuck up on us because it was at the end of the grant window.”
Before a decision was made, Basin Water and Sewer representatives heard more county money was available, and they requested to receive more funding, especially since they didn’t receive any ARPA funding from the state.
“All the state gave us was grief,” said Basin Water and Sewer Board Director Dede Rhodes.
Rhodes said this process has been particularly frustrating considering the Clancy Water and Sewer Board received $2 million from the state.
Nevertheless, Kirsch said Basin already received more money from the county than the rest of the sewer and water departments (including an additional $28,000 following the initial $250,000). Kirsch said it was in the county’s best interest to spread the funds around some more.
“Jefferson County is so diversified,” Kirsch said. “We’ve got Whitehall, we’ve got Boulder, we’ve got the north end. We don’t want to play favorites for anybody. It’s really important to make sure each area of the county is represented and treated equally.” This includes ARPA funding.
“For example, if the Boulder pool needs money we better look at the Whitehall pool, too,” Kirsch said. “The same goes with childcare needs, or water and sewer districts. We’re really trying to make sure everyone get a piece of the pie.”
Kirsch said he and the other commissioners will do whatever they can to help departments such as Basin Water and Sewer get the funding it needs. It’s important, Kirsch said, to make sure each respective community has what it needs to provide for its residents. Similarly, Kirsch wants individuals and departments alike to know the commissioners are doing all they can to communicate efficiently.
“I want the public to feel we are completely transparent,” he said. “I encourage people to come to us and start a conversation. If we can assist, we will.”
