By Conrad Dudderar
Staff Writer
Canadian County’s four largest cities have received just over $10 million of the county’s $28.8 million federal stimulus award for water and sewer projects.
Canadian County commissioners, at their weekly meeting May 30, approved distributions totaling $10,006,630 of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to these municipalities:
- City of Mustang – $2,802,612
- City of El Reno – $2,438,044
- City of Yukon – $3,725,438
- City of Piedmont – $1,040,536
These monies will be made “available to them immediately,” Canadian County Commission Chairman Dave Anderson said.
Commissioners followed the advice of Assistant District Attorney Tommy Humphries to use a “formula approach” based on about 76% of what these cities already have been directly awarded from the ARPA program:
Mustang ($3,690,000), El Reno ($3,210,000), Yukon ($4,905,020), and Piedmont ($1,370,000).
“Several weeks ago, we decided to allocate a percentage of our available money to the sewer and water projects,” Anderson said.
The four municipalities formally requested the following shares of Canadian County’s award: Mustang ($3,560,000), El Reno ($3,500,000), Yukon ($4,350,000), and Piedmont ($1,406,499).
Mustang has received 78.7% of its requested amount, El Reno 69.7%, Yukon 85.6%, and Piedmont 74%.
Canadian County’s municipal water obligations total $10,348,411. Remaining funds are expected to be distributed to the small municipalities of Union City and Calumet.
The municipalities are considered “sub-recipients” of Canadian County’s ARPA award, Humphries said.
Commissioners also plan to distribute shares of ARPA funds totaling $1,826,191 to eight entities in two other categories – rural water and community services.
PREVIOUS OBLIGATIONS
Canadian County received $28,806,702 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021, a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill designed to speed up the country’s recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing recession.
Commissioners previously obligated $16,632,100 of its $28.8 million ARPA award:
- $10 million for estimated “lost” Canadian County revenue, which may be used toward construction of a new county courthouse complex.
- $6.2 million to the Canadian County Health Department. Some $6,005,867.92 has been spent to acquire property near SH-66 and Evans Road for a new CCHD site.
- $432,100 to the Canadian County District Attorney’s Office to administer the county’s ARPA funds over five years. $86,420 has been spent.
Canadian County and its municipalities must follow a federal reporting process as the ARPA funds are obligated and spent.
Federal ARPA stimulus funds may be used to:
- Restore lost revenues for any negative tax impact due to lower economic activity.
- Upgrade and improve Internet broadband, water and sewer infrastructure.
- Respond to the negative economic impacts and public health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and to be prepared for any future pandemics.
- Provide premium pay for essential employees who undertook required public health-related work during the pandemic.
