With the end-of-the-year deadline looming for townships to obligate American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, the Leelanau Township board took action Dec. 10 to ensure that remaining monies would be accessible and properly designated in the weeks to come.
Townships have until Dec. 31 of this year to obligate their allocation of federal ARPA funds, however, the funds must be fully spent by Dec. 31 2026. According to the U.S. Treasury’s “Reporting and Compliance” guidance, if the funds are not obligated or spent by these deadlines, they must be returned to the U.S. Treasury.
At the meeting, the board approved a motion to grant their clerk and treasurer the ability to spend up to the amount of the unobligated ARPA funds left on any prior expenditures that meet ARPA requirements, adding that if funds remain, it will be obligated to enhance network security.
Clerk Jessica Wilson suggested obligating ARPA funds towards recently installed township software/technology and computer equipment. Much of the board’s concern was to make sure that suggestions like the software and computer equipment meet the requirements of ARPA so as to not run into any issues of having to return the money. The township software loan, Wilson said during the meeting, was around $75,000, and would qualify as an ARPA expense as it was approved and purchased during the COVID pandemic. She estimated that the township had anywhere between $90-100,000 in ARPA funds remaining, so it would definitely help to pay that expense. Wilson said about $12,000 has already been spent in ARPA funds for solar panels this year.
ARPA monies were originally to be distributed to local and state governments to mitigate the fiscal impacts of the COVID19 pandemic. Funds can be used for things such as to provide government services affected by a revenue reduction during the pandemic, to make necessary investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, and to respond to the pandemic emergency and address its negative economic impacts.
Since 2022, the county and township have been working together to move forward with plans to construct a telecommunications tower. In that time, several major actions were taken, like the township passing a resolution urging the county to assist with their coverage shortfalls, and the board’s approval to commit $100,000 in ARPA funds towards the project. With the tower project on hold since April, township officials previously discussed using money from the general fund to pay for the $100,000, and re-obligating the ARPA money in order to avoid returning it.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the board member appointment of Elizabeth Schwind to the parks and recreation committee, as well as Julie Preneta for a three-year term.
• Approved the board member appointment of Silvia Gans to the planning commission.
• Approved the board member appointment of Barbara Conley to the Northport Leelanau Township Utilities Authority (NLTUA).
• Approved the appointments of Paul Rebori, Mary Tonneberger, and Bob Carol for two-year terms on the Leelanau Township Board of Review.
