By Karen Gleason
The 830 Times
City council members on Dec. 10 gave their seal of approval to city administrators’ recommendations on reallocating some coronavirus relief funds from the federal government.
The council during its most recent meeting unanimously approved an ordinance “to update the funding plan of the city of Del Rio relating to the American Rescue Plan Act, Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds. . .”
After City Secretary Mari Acosta read the heading of the agenda item, Mayor Al Arreola asked if there was a motion.
Mayor Pro-tem Jim DeReus made a motion to approve the city manager’s recommendation as delineated in the ordinance, with Councilman J.P. Sanchez giving the second.
Arreola asked if there were any questions and, hearing none, called for the vote. The council unanimously approved DeReus’ motion.
A memo by Assistant Finance Director Roxy Soto included as part of the council’s informational packet notes the city has received $8,869,581 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (CSLFRF).
In her memo to the council, Soto wrote, “City staff is recommending a revision to the obligated amounts based on grants received as of FY24 (Fiscal Year 2024) Rural Business Development Grants Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Soto wrote the city received a payment of $4,430,413 on Sept. 30, 2021, and a second payment of $4,439,169 on Sept. 26, 2022. She added the funds “should be obligated by Dec. 31, 2024.”
“The following is the breakdown of how the funds are currently obligated:
- $277,000 Small Business Stimulus Program (balance of $242,000)
- $4,200,000 Phase 1: water generators
- $111,000 Transformer Emergency Purchase
- $285,000 Combined Dispatch (balance $62,113)
- $198,000 Patrol Vehicles (2)
- $498,581 Water Pumps and Motors
- $3,300,000 Phase 2: wastewater generators,” Soto wrote.
She told the council staff is recommending a revision to the amounts obligated.
“(Staff recommends) reallocating the balance of $242,000 from (the) Small Business Stimulus Program for the purchase of an additional two or three patrol vehicles. Small businesses will have an opportunity to apply for the funds the city has been awarded, which was $167,783 in funding with no cost match to create a revolving loan fund to provide 0 percent or low-interest loans to small businesses in Del Rio,” Soto wrote.
She also said staff is recommending reallocating the $62,100 balance from the combined dispatch program for the purchase of an additional two or three patrol vehicles.
The writer can be reached at delriomagnoliafan@gmail.com.
