By: Donovan W. Mann – [email protected]
Dakota City, IA – The Humboldt County Supervisors are putting their heads together with a few county leaders to figure out how to use their American Rescue Plan funds.
Following the meeting of the board on Monday, June 28, they held a work session to discuss the federal funds the county will be receiving. Included in the discussions was the Director of Humboldt County Economic Development Alissa O’Connor and Director of Conservation Todd Lee.
The county is receiving about $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan funds. The biggest question facing a lot of entities receiving these funds is how it can be spent. The Iowa Treasury has provided guidelines but they are described as “very vague” by Supervisor Sandy Loney.
The first idea the supervisors touched heavily on was putting some of the fund towards childcare. While childcare and growing the workforce in that area for Kiddie Cats and other facilities in Humboldt County is a need, using these funds did not seems like a good long term solution to that issue. Supervisor Rick Pedersen says they do not want to use these funds to something that is going to need continuous funding.
A second area the board talked about putting the funds towards was improving and enhancing the county’s camp grounds and other recreational areas. Todd Lee says that they are looking to expand Sheldon Park’s camp ground areas. A lot of the county’s camping areas have been booked out and the supervisors agreed that expansion would see return on the investment.
County bike and walking trails were also discussed as an area that could be developed further. Some areas are choosing to use their American Rescue Plan funds to expand trails.
No official plan was discussed in more detail during the work session. The supervisors charged themselves, Lee and O’Connor to draft rough plans on what the fund could be used for. They also will hold conversations with other parties such as the Emergency Management.