County has used $200K out of $5M in COVID relief money

The State of Missouri received nearly $2.38 billion in federal funding after the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act in late March, and that money has been divided up among the state’s counties and major metropolitan areas.

“It was funds funneled to the State of Missouri from the federal government, and the state decided to take a portion of the CARES Act funds and allocate those to the counties, based on population,” said Crystal Jones, executive director of the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission.

Butler County’s share of the funding, Jones said, amounted to $4,983,517.

The county, she said, did not have to apply or request the funds, only accept them.

Those funds, Jones said, arrived in late April or the first of May.

“They came in pretty quick,” she said.

However, Jones said, the treasury department “released very little guidance attached to these funds. It took the county a couple months to work through all of the requirements and figure out what they can and can’t do with the money. There were several calls with Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick’s office.”

“It’s not worded very well, so you’re afraid to do anything,” said Butler County Presiding Commissioner Vince Lampe.

Because of the vagueness of the requirements for money distribution, Lampe said, the commission makes those entities receiving money sign a document saying if they don’t fit the criteria, they must pay it back.

“But if they had money, they wouldn’t be asking for it,” he said.

The Ozark Foothills Regional Planning Commission, Jones said, has been tasked with administering the money, and they have taken several applications from various political subdivisions seeking funds.

In mid to late May, Jones said, Butler County opened up its application cycle for what it deemed Phase 1, where entities such as school districts, libraries, fire departments, the health department and cities could apply for reimbursement of COVID-19 related expenses from March through June.

The planning commission takes in applications and ensures all the necessary documentation and requirements are met, and that information is forwarded to the county commission for approval, Jones said.

“Ultimately,” she said, “the county is responsible for the funds” and cuts the checks.

“For Butler County, they have accepted all of those applications for reimbursement and have dispersed all of those funds they received applications for in Phase 1,” Jones said.

“I think we’ve given out $170,000, maybe closer to $200,000,” said Lampe.

Entities receiving funds to this point, he said, were the Neelyville School District, City of Poplar Bluff, Butler County, Poplar Bluff Municipal Library and Butler County Health Department.

Lampe said the commission expects to hand out more CARES Act money in the near future.

“We’ve got some projects coming up that are pretty good sized, and that money hasn’t been spent yet,” he said.

A second phase of funding began in July, Jones noted.

“Now they are in their Phase 2 process, which runs through the end of August,” Jones said. “During this application cycle, political subdivisions can still request reimbursements for COVID-related needs going back to July 1. They can also request funds for any future needs they anticipate.”

“I’m sure the city and the health department are coming back to the plate,” Lampe speculated.

In addition, a Phase 3 may be opened up in the future as well, Jones said.

“It’s anticipated that after we get through all of the reimbursement needs and advance grant needs for political subdivisions and nonprofits that there may be a Phase 3 opened up for other needs,” Jones said. “That’s really up to the county to decide. I think they’re taking it phase by phase and seeing where they are with the money.”

Jones is expecting more requests for funding to come from local school districts as they “struggle with trying to figure out what they need to do to get started this year.”

“I’m thinking the governor may do a special deal just for the schools,” Lampe added.