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COVINGTON, Ga. — The Newton County Board of Commissioners Tuesday continued their yearlong collection of disagreements over distribution of federal COVID aid funds.
Board members voted to not take into account approving a request to amend the agenda so as to add initiatives funded with federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds reserved for his district.
County commissioners late final 12 months agreed to have $1 million in ARPA funds reserved for every commissioner to make use of for initiatives of their districts as a part of the county’s $10.8 million share of first-round ARPA funding.
The rest is being distributed in different areas, together with to county residents by means of an software course of administered by the Salvation Military for help with utility and housing prices associated to lack of earnings through the pandemic.
District 3 Commissioner Alana Sanders stated the Board’s ARPA subcommittee just lately mentioned use of commissioners’ ARPA funds for 2 nonprofits, together with ViewPoint Well being and the Newton County Historic Committee which organizes the annual Juneteenth celebration in Covington.
“A kind of objects (ViewPoint Well being) was positioned on the (Could 3) agenda with no points — why is there an issue now?” Sanders requested, in reference to the Historic Committee.
She famous Chairman Marcello Banes on Could 3 allowed three teams to make shows as a part of his normal “Chairman’s Report” part that usually contains award shows and shows from space nonprofits.
Every group then appealed for ARPA funding throughout their shows with two of the three teams — Prepared Helpers free clinic and a Household, Profession and Neighborhood Leaders of America membership at a Newton County center college — telling the Board they wanted the cash instantly.
Commissioners voted to present a complete of $1.08 million of cash reserved for his or her districts, based mostly on them qualifying for the cash, and later agreed to have nonprofits attraction first to the ARPA subcommittee somewhat than on to the total Board.
District 4 Commissioner J.C. Henderson on Tuesday stated he additionally needed consideration of his ARPA-funded initiatives positioned on the agenda.
He stated Banes — who controls what’s positioned on the agenda however just isn’t a voting member — allowed every group to talk Could 3.
Banes responded that commissioners weren’t requested to present the cash instantly however they voted to take action anyway as an emergency measure.
Sanders stated Henderson submitted the request for his initiatives to the Board’s ARPA subcommittee in April with out last motion being taken to position them on an agenda for the total Board.
Nonetheless, the Board voted 3-2 to not add Henderson’s initiatives to the agenda with commissioners Stan Edwards, Demond Mason and Ronnie Cowan voting to not add the initiatives and Sanders and Henderson voting for it.
Dialogue indicated these opposing the addition to the agenda needed them to be accredited by the ARPA subcommittee first.
Interim County Supervisor Jarvis Sims stated the subcommittee deliberate to schedule a public assembly to contemplate all of the requests from native organizations for the funding.
The Board has been at odds on the timing and technique of distribution of ARPA funds since receiving them in April 2021. Former county supervisor Lloyd Kerr’s contract was not renewed partly due to his cautious response to start distribution of the funds. Planning for distribution didn’t start till about November 2021.
In different motion Tuesday, Could 17, the Board voted to:
• Approve a $4.9 million bid from CMES Inc. for a realignment and alternative venture for the Brown Bridge Highway bridge over Snapping Shoals Creek. Funding contains 80% from Atlanta Regional Fee and 20% from SPLOST.
• Renew the county’s worker medical health insurance with Cigna medical health insurance.
• Approve a Conditional Use Allow for applicant Cinnamon Sarten to ascertain a business baby daycare heart within the CG (Basic Business) zoning district in three suites of a constructing at 2606, 2608 & 2610 Hwy. 212.
• Rezone a 12.39-acre parcel on Henderson Mill Highway from A (Agricultural) to AR (Agricultural Residential) to subdivide one parcel into 5 tons for relations to reside there.
• Rezone a 15.82-acre parcel at 11915 Hwy. 278 from A (Agricultural) to AR (Agricultural Residential) to subdivide one parcel into two tons for relations to reside there.
• Appoint Kim Payne and Ashley Cahill to the Animal Service Board.
• Appoint Zach Ames and the Rev. Yvonne English to the Library Board.
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