Boonsboro, Funkstown, Smithsburg benefit as county allocates remaining ARPA money

Boonsboro, Funkstown and Smithsburg will benefit from the county's remaining, unallocated, American Rescue Plan funds.

The Washington County Commissioners agreed Tuesday to divide $648,592 of the money the county received as a result of the American Rescue Plan Act between capital projects in these municipalities, except for $11,592 the county will retain to maintain its ARPA grant manager until final reporting is complete.

Here's where the money will go:

• Boonsboro gets the largest chunk at $400,000. It will go toward its reservoir project, reducing the amount the town will have to borrow to complete it. That figure, according to Mayor Howard Long, is estimated at $3 million.
• Funkstown will get $100,000 to replace a lead service line on Frederick Road. Funkstown also had sought $175,000 to repair an open storm drain. But this allocation will allow the town to complete the line replacement project, County Administrator Michelle Gordon said.
• Smithsburg will get $137,000 toward its pump station replacement project; each pump station replacement is estimated to cost $1 million, according to Mayor Donnie Souders.

Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 , and economic stimulus bill, in March 2021 in response to the COVID pandemic's impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals and businesses.

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Only one request the county received that was eligible for its remaining ARPA money was not at least partly granted. Community Rescue Service sought $60,000 to purchase a Stryker ambulance power load system for its new unit, but that request was not recommended for approval.

The county government was required to allocate its remaining funds by Dec. 31. Commissioners President John Barr and Commissioners Wayne Keefer and Derek Harvey unanimously approved the requests. Comissioners Vice President Jeff Cline and Commissioner Randy Wagner were absent.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Boonsboro, Funkstown, Smithsburg benefit as county allocates remaining ARPA money