By Josh Staloch
Staff Writer
HOBART – The Village of Hobart’s remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds were up for discussion when the Village Board met April 6.
The village has until Dec. 31, 2024 to allocate the remaining $676,447 of its total $1,055,268.36 ARPA funds.
Village Administrator Aaron Kramer provided the board with multiple options.
Kramer recommended the board rescind a portion of a motion it made last summer, which included using ARPA funding for a project on Autumn Joy Road, which was expected to cost around $160,000, and instead use the tax incremental district (TID) money to fund that project.
Kramer said when the motion was approved last July, the board didn’t know what the project’s total costs would look like or how healthy the TID would be when it came time to cut the checks.
“If the board wishes to proceed with funding the water main and sanitary sewer, since we do have actual numbers we awarded, it would reduce your (ARPA) balance to $473,506,” he said. “If you wish to relocate those costs back so it’s completely paid for by the (TID) and not ARPA, we need to make a motion tonight to reverse the motion you made last summer.”
Kramer said the philosophy behind the recommendation is that ARPA funds can be used in a variety of locations across the village, but TID funds cannot.
“You’ve awarded that bid,” he said. “It’s done, work’s going to start. It’s just, how are we paying for it?”
Ultimately, the board unanimously rescinded the July 2021 action and voted to instead apply TID #2 funds to the Autumn Joy Road project.
Office refresh
The board unanimously approved spending $18,648 of ARPA funds to remodel the village offices.
Kramer said items of note to be purchased include a variety of office equipment and ergonomic upgrades to the facility.
New squad car, cameras approved
Police Chief Randi Bani requested $31,325 for the new squad car, and $21,600 for the cameras.
The total cost to Hobart comes in at $26,462, as the purchases are split with the Town of Lawrence.
The final purchase is contingent on an identical motion being approved by the Town of Lawrence.
Infrastructure projects taking shape
In other business, the board awarded bids on four projects slated for completion in 2022 to MMC Inc., of Appleton.
Projects include:
• $152,117 for repaving of Merrimac Court and Camelot Court
• $36,180 for repairs to the South Overland Road culvert
• $91,179 for 43 inlet repairs in Thornberry Creek
Kazik, Schumacher recognized
Before the start of the meeting, one day after longtime trustees Ed Kazik and Debbie Schumacher lost their seats to Vanya Kopke and Tammy Zittlow, Village President Richard Heidel took a moment to bid farewell to the former board members and thank them for their service to the village.
“I think it’s appropriate to publicly thank trustees Schumacher and Kazik for their more than a decade and a half of service and sacrifice,” Heidel said before asking the room to give a round of applause to the pair of outgoing trustees.