The time to allocate American Rescue Plan Act funds is running out.
With that in mind, Mansfield City Council voted Tuesday to dole out nearly $2.3 million for several projects, most related to parks.
At-large Councilman David Falquette was the bill’s sponsor.
“I am very much aware that we have to be in contract by the end of the year,” he said. “If we’re going to get some money back from these proposed projects, we need to get that back as soon as possible so we can spend it by the end of the year.”
Mayor Jodie Perry explained the process.
“When we unappropriated projects that weren’t moving forward or had finished and had money left in the balance, we had a little over $2.8 million,” she said, adding there is still $600,000 that has not been allocated.
Council voted to allocate $375,000 to various parks projects for recreation, security, lighting and maintenance.
Perry said the money will be used to refinish a basketball court, install LED lighting and build new roofs in buildings at North Lake Park. She added roadways in some of the parks will be paved.
Another $135,000 will go to sandstone restorations at Liberty and South parks.
In the second group of projects, council voted to award $750,000 to design an industrial waterline loop and sanitary system for the industrial park at Lahm Regional Airport.
Perry said the project would allow further expansion there.
“That is where the future growth is going to be,” the mayor said, adding the current utilities do not loop. Looping them will provide better continuity and increased service, she said.
Another $575,000 will go for sidewalks and other projects at King Street and Johns parks. Perry said the sidewalks will be larger than normal, comparing them to multi-use trails.
“We’ve applied for a grant at King Street Park to replace playground equipment and potentially a pavilion,” she said.
The mayor added a half-court basketball court could be put in on asphalt that currently has weeds.
Council voted to allocate $200,000 for a pedestrian bridge in Middle Park.
“That used to be a park you could drive through,” Perry said.
In a safety measure, the city is investing $160,000 for four tornado sirens in a partnership with the county emergency management agency.
Perry said Mansfield has never had tornado sirens. Rebecca Owens, director of the county EMA, was on hand Tuesday. She said a siren has a 1-mile radius.
Perry said county commissioners are also interested in the project.
The final $75,000 in this round of ARPA funds will go toward a police command vehicle. There was more than $66,000 left over from a police dispatch project.
Council also voted to dole out $25,000 in revenue replacement funds for an electrification analysis of the fleet of police vehicles.
Perry said the city will work with a consultant to take a look at the fleet to see what is possible for electric vehicles.
In the public comment portion of the meeting, resident Matthew Schuster said the city’s priorities are skewed.
“Police need help. They need a lot of help,” he said, becoming emotional. “Safety needs to be the No. 1 priority.”
Schuster referenced the city’s most recent homicide.
“We need you to take this seriously because I don’t believe any of you are,” he said.
Councilman Aurelio Diaz took offense, saying members do care about safety but are looking at all areas.
In other business, council voted to enter agreements with the Ohio Department of Transportation in several endeavors, including snow and ice removal on certain portions of state highways in and around the city.
“I appreciate the administration working together with ODOT to go with strengths and weaknesses,” Falquette said, adding the agreement will allow city employees to focus more on residential streets.
City Engineer Bob Bianchi spoke about several bills, including one for engineering and planning services at Clearfork Reservoir over the next five years.
He said the bill was necessitated by sedimentation that has built up over the last 75 years. A consultant will do an analysis of the reservoir’s original, current and projected capacity.
“We’d like it to last another 75 years,” Bianchi said.
Councilwoman Laura Burns said, “This is a very important thing that often goes unnoticed. We need to know what’s going on for the people in the future.”
Ponds at Liberty and North Lake parks also will be part of the services, which council approved unanimously.
Council also approved submitting an application for funding the 2025 signal replacement project. Bianchi said of the city’s 105 intersections with signals, 19 have outdated equipment. The cost is $900,000, he said, and the city is seeking a $425,000 grant.
The replacements will take place gradually, starting with the intersections at Cline and Marion avenues, West Fourth Street and Brookwood Way, and Springmill and Mulberry streets.
In other business, council members:
-
Authorized an agreement with Ardane R. Miller to provide campground and boat dock management services at Clearfork Reservoir.
-
Vacated a portion of Aylesbury Street and a portion of an unnamed alley at the request of the property owner.
-
Authorized entering a contract for information technology managed services. Safety Services Director Keith Porch said no IT employees will be replaced.
-
Accepted a state grant for $100,000 to go for salaries and overtime for the city’s opiate response team.
-
Authorized entering a contract to provide electricity at certain city-owned facilities.
-
Authorized entering a contract for the disposal and land application of wastewater sludge.
mcaudill@gannett.com
419-521-7219
X: @MarkCau32059251
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mansfield City Council doles out ARPA funds for parks, tornado sirens
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
