Council approves final engineering appropriation, advertises ARPA interest use and loans rainy-day funds to solid waste

Greene County commissioners and the council took several budget actions Wednesday, approving final engineering funds for a road project, authorizing advertisement of ARPA-interest spending on a solid-waste building repair, and approving a $40,000 rainy-day loan to the solid-waste district.

Staff presented a final-approval motion for engineering of the Harvest Church Road project; the council moved and seconded the final appropriation and approved it by voice vote. The motion enacted the funding previously proposed for engineering work.

The council also considered interest earned on federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Staff said interest had been segregated into a separate account with a balance around $330,000 and recommended using a portion (advertised at $240,000) for repairs on the county’s solid-waste building. The council voted to advertise a $240,000 appropriation from ARPA interest so bids and public comment can be obtained before a final decision.

Finally, the council approved a $40,000 loan from the rainy-day fund to the solid-waste district so the district could buy a skid steer without paying finance charges. The loan will be repaid to the rainy-day fund over five years, the council said.

The nut graf: the combined actions move multiple elements of county capital work forward — final engineering for a road project, an advertised appropriation for ARPA interest to repair a county facility, and an intragovernmental loan intended to reduce financing costs for equipment — while preserving public-advertising steps for larger appropriations.