Butler County supervisors reallocate $600,000 in ARPA funds, approve prosecutor software and mental-health training

Butler County supervisors met March 5, 2024, and unanimously approved several administrative actions, including a reallocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds and new contracts to support county operations.

Chairman Wayne Dralle and Supervisors Rusty Eddy and Greg Barnett moved through routine business at the start of the meeting, approving the agenda and the minutes of the previous meeting. No public comment was recorded.

IT Director Sara Trepp presented a contract for the County Attorney’s Case Management Project, describing software that will link the County Attorney’s office with state, FBI and other shared case systems. The board approved the contract with Karpel Solutions on a motion by Supervisor Rusty Eddy and a second by Supervisor Greg Barnett. The minutes report the motion carried with “all ayes.”

Public Health Director Jennifer Becker and EMS Coordinator Kari Coates recommended offering a Mental Health First Aid course after a five-year health assessment identified mental-health needs. The course was presented as a single-session training tentatively scheduled for April 6 at a cost of $2,000. The board approved the training on a motion by Eddy, seconded by Barnett; the minutes state “all ayes.”

By unanimous action the board adopted Resolution 2000-2024 concerning American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) disbursements. The resolution restates earlier ARPA commitments (including $200,000 for the Dumont Telephone broadband project, $1.5 million for a new Public Health building, and $150,000 for Conservation shower houses, among other items) and notes that a previously planned $600,000 repaving project for courthouse parking had not been started. The board elected to reallocate that $600,000 of FY24 ARPA appropriated dollars for government services; the resolution was declared duly adopted on March 5, 2024.

The board also reviewed and approved county claims for Feb. 1–29, 2024, covering utilities, maintenance, health and public-safety expenditures and vendor payments as listed in the minutes. The board acknowledged receipt of several manure-management annual updates for local finishing farms and adjourned at 9:26 a.m. to its next regular meeting on March 12, 2024.

Votes at a glance: the minutes record the Karpel Solutions contract approval (mover: Rusty Eddy; seconder: Greg Barnett; outcome: approved), the Mental Health First Aid training approval (mover: Rusty Eddy; seconder: Greg Barnett; outcome: approved), adoption of Resolution 2000-2024 reallocating ARPA funds (mover: Rusty Eddy; seconder: Greg Barnett; outcome: adopted), and approval of claims for Feb. 1–29, 2024 (mover: Greg Barnett; seconder: Rusty Eddy; outcome: approved). The minutes state motions passed with “all ayes.”

County Auditor Leslie Groen attested to the minutes and Chairman Wayne Dralle signed the record.