Cass County Board: Commissioners consider several American Rescue Plan Act requests

   WALKER — Cass County Administrator Josh Stevenson gave an American Rescue Plan Act Grant (ARPA) update at the Tuesday, April 5 Cass County Board meeting. With five new applications on the agenda for approval and more coming in Stevenson wanted to inform the commissioners on how much money has been encumbered and how much is remaining.

   Seven different categories were set up when the ARPA grant application was created to efficiently distribute money to as many businesses and non-profit organizations as possible. Currently three of the categories have no money remaining in them, those being county public service projects, direct cash assistance for small business and non-profits and home health and learning. The remaining categories are: Infrastructure, with $320,000 out of $1.5 million committed; Workforce housing, with $50,000 out of $400,000 committed; Childcare capacity, with $6,000 out of $400,000 committed and Other qualified uses, with $51,000 out of $100,000 committed. 

   Stevenson mentioned on Tuesday’s agenda a total of $381,800 was being requested from three of the categories, with one category having more money requested than available. It was also noted currently the county has encumbered all funds that have been received from the Federal Government, therefore it was recommended if the board approve the current requests they approve them pending receipt of the second distribution.

   The ARPA grants were then addressed in the order they were received with the first one being for Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity. Executive Director of Lakes Area Habitat for Humanity, Kevin Pelkey, was available to answer any questions on the application in the amount of $250,000 to assist in building affordable homes in Cass Lake. The total project is estimated to cost $1.5 million and the organization has applied for other grants as a match to the requested ARPA grant from Cass County. The board approved the grant request pending receipt of the second distribution, which will be encumbered from the Workforce Housing category.

   The next ARPA grant request was from Morgan Dabill, owner of Wild Roots Early Learning Center. Dabill is requesting an additional $160,000 to assist in the construction of a new childcare center in Backus due to the increase of construction costs. The total project is estimated to cost $850,000 and Dabill has received $100,000 in other grants with the remaining amount to be financed by the bank and Small Business Association loans. The board approved the grant request pending receipt of the second distribution, which will be encumbered from the Childcare Capacity category.

   Dan Pflugshaupt, Broker/Owner of Eagle Lake Realty, LLC requested $6,800 to assist in the remodel of a storage room to allow for expansion of new jobs and provide adequate spacing and distancing from other employees. Pflugshaupt has already received two prior grants from Cass County in the amounts of $5,500 and $9,000 along with an EIDL grant in the amount of $3,025.07. Commissioner Neal Gaalswyk mentioned he felt this request was more of a direct cash assistance request, which that funding has been exhausted. Commissioner Jeff Peterson motioned to deny the application as submitted with all other commissioners approving the motion unanimously.

   Brittany Lynch, owner of Brittany’s Floral requested $15,000 in ARPA funding to assist in purchasing equipment to create an outdoor space for customers to check out and purchase a delivery vehicle for a contactless service. This request also was noted to be more associated with the direct cash assistance category like the previous request. Lynch has also received prior grants from Cass County in the amounts of $3,000 and $6,000. The board approved the grant request pending receipt of the second distribution, which will be encumbered from the Other qualified uses category.

   The final ARPA grant request was in the amount of $30,000 from the American Legion Post 202, Hackensack to assist in the building of an addition to create more space for safe dining. The actual cost of the project is unknown, but there are funds available from money the Legion has in savings and possible other grants available. It was mentioned the American Legion has not received any other funding from Cass County or any other entity due to the pandemic. The board approved the grant request pending receipt of the second distribution, which will be encumbered from the Other qualified uses category. 

   In other business, the county board:

   • Appointed commissioners Bob Kangas and Scott Bruns to a committee of the board to appoint an Environmental Services Director.

   • Held a public hearing concerning the 2022 redistricting plans for Cass County Commissioners. With no public comments the Commissioners approved the redistriciting plan with an effective date of May 6, 2022.

   •  Accepted the State of Minnesota election security grant in the amount of $26,842.08.

   • Awarded a bid for the HVAC system in the Land Department Service Center, Backus, in the amount of $167,750 to Up North Plumbing & Heating, Inc. 

   • Approved utilizing American Rescue Plan Act Grant funds for two separate Cass County data storage projects in the amount of $76,245.92 each. One project will be for data storage replacement at the Walker location and the other will be for data storage offsite replication to be located at the Backus location.

   • Approved the requesting of bids for the Deep Portage Environmental Learning Center reroof project with a flexible completion date.

   The next meeting are as follows: Public hearing 6 p.m., Tuesday, Apr. 12 in Lima Township, 7933 64th St. NE, Remer; commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, Apr. 19 at the Land Department meeting room in Backus and Commissioner’s board meeting 9 a.m. Tuesday, May 3 at the boardroom in the courthouse annex in Walker.