BEDFORD – The Lawrence County Commissioners held a public hearing Tuesday afternoon at StoneGate Arts & Education Center, on how the community would like the incoming ARPA funds to be disbursed.
Currently, Lawrence County will receive a total of $8.8 Million in American Rescue Funds Act funds and is looking for the best ways to use the incoming funds to benefit the County the most. Jason Semler with Baker Tilly Consulting Firm, will advise the commission on the steps they will need to take and which projects could be chosen within the amount of funding available.
Some of those who spoke during the meeting included the following requests:
- Phil O’ Toole spoke about stormwater issues he is having in the City of Bedford and the need to address or upgrade the lift station. According to O’ Toole, the city has not completely remedied the problem when the city attempted to correct the issue on Forest View Drive, causing his backyard and basement to flood, which has happened three times in the last six months.
- Greg Jones, Southern Indiana Development Commission asked the commissioners to look into land banking properties. This will allow the counties to take care of area blight, with houses that are no longer on the tax rolls, and be used for a greater benefit of the community. He also asked about resolving an issue with septic systems between Oolitic and Bedford on Oolitic Road. Approximately 16 homes in the area have failing septic systems and wanted funds used to get those homes on the municipal sewer system.
- Lawrence County Prosecutor Samuel Arp II supported efforts to expand broadband internet service in the county. Arp stated he lived in three places throughout the county and was not able to have good internet service. This left him having to travel to Bedford to get search warrants completed, before going to serve them which was wasting time and fuel.
- David Holmes, spoke about using the funds for mental health issues that Lawrence County is dealing with. The drug addiction and issues surrounding the drug problem can relate to mental health and asked part of those funds should be used for those projects, to better assist those who need it.
- Ryan Turner, speaking on behalf of the Lawrence County Independent Schools spoke about giving funds to the two charter schools that just recently opened, and are not supported by property taxes which causes lower budgeting for the schools overall.
- Jason Lewis spoke on behalf of the volunteer fire departments and asked for funding for updated radio communication equipment upgrades. He addressed issues each of the nine volunteer fire departments in Lawrence County are dealing with. Some of these departments can’t get in contact with some volunteers due to a lack of radio signal, and upgraded equipment would benefit the departments and the community.
The Lawrence County Commissioners used this meeting to gauge the interest of the community on how they would like the use of these funds, and will convene with a committee to determine which areas need the most focus and how they should disperse the funds when they arrive.
