The clock is ticking on the Town of Franklin’s remaining $421,761 in American Rescue Plan Act funds awarded during the COVID pandemic.
The town received a total of $1,308,253 and has used the funds for employee bonuses, sidewalk improvements, the Clyde Street waterline project, water treatment plant improvements, purchasing a piece of property from Mainspring Conservation Trust and the Allman Drive Greenway extension project.
Local governments have until Dec. 31, 2024, to commit the funds and the money must be spent by Dec. 31, 2026.
During the July 1 Town Council meeting, Vice Mayor Stacy Guffey said putting the money toward the Wilkie Street sewer line project would be an appropriate use.
Town Manager Amie Owens said Wilkie Street is already in the budget, but there are some other projects the town needs to complete. During the meeting, the council approved a bid for the Wilkie Street project.
Owens said although they are working with state and federal officials to pursue funding for the $4.2 million clearwell replacement and high service pump station at the wastewater treatment plant, there is no guarantee they will receive outside funding.
Council member Joe Collins said before deciding on how to spend the ARPA funds, he would like a “refresher course” on what is needed and what the options are.
Council member David Culpepper said he would like to see it put toward something like sidewalks, the park at the Whitmire property or something more town based.
Council member Rita Salain said she would like to see them focus more on sidewalks. She asked otherwise where would funding for sidewalk improvements come from.
Owens reminded the council they have about $1.8 million in the fund balance that could be spent on other projects. Earlier this year, the council approved a fund balance policy that states the fund balance should include a minimum of 80% of the town’s operating costs. With keeping the required minimum in the fund balance, there would be nearly $2 million available for the town to spend on capital expenditures.
“There are funds out there for Whitmire, sidewalks – that kind of thing,” Owens said.
Mayor Jack Horton suggested Owens put together a list of possible infrastructure projects and the board could work on prioritizing the list at the August meeting. The mayor pointed out local governments across the state are in the same situation and there are millions of ARPA dollars that may go unspent.
Culpepper said the money should be spent “on important things; we’re not going to let it go to waste.”
The next Town Council meeting will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5 in the board room on the lower level of Town Hall.