Mike Wolanin | The Republic The exterior of The Commons with the Bartholomew County Courthouse pictured in the background in downtown Columbus, Ind., Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017.
The Bartholomew County Commissioners heard an update on where American Rescue Plan Act funds have gone on Monday. Commissioner Tony London also gave a brief update on the progress of the county-wide broadband project.
Of the $16.4 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding awarded to the county, $8.5 million of the allotted amount has been spent to date.
Auditor Pia O’Connor told the commissioners that $350,729 of ARP funds were used in the fourth quarter of 2023, with the majority going towards HVAC projects at Bartholomew County Jail and the county courthouse.
“We continue to have money for the COVID vaccine clinics and started to have some bills come in on our courthouse HVAC project,” O’Connor said.
She said $210,000 went towards the jail HVAC project, which should be finished by the end of the first quarter. O’Connor estimated that there is about $130,000 left on the project.
Other expenditures in the previous quarter include $111,186 spent on the courthouse HVAC project and $8,743 that went towards vaccine clinics. There was $7,142 spent on elevator replacement.
Budgeted ARP funds also encompass the county-wide broadband project, which saw its first home wired with fiber internet in December. The partnership, between the county, Hoosier Fiber Networks and their internet provider, GigabitNow, will make broadband internet available to nearly every rural home in the county.
As of Monday morning, 176 homes now have access to high-speed broadband, Commissioner London said.
“By the middle of February, they anticipate another 500 and some homes. By the end of the year, we’re looking at 8000 to 10,000 in the county – the rural areas – with fiber into their homes.”
The county is using $4 million in ARP funds to pay for it, and London said he expected the bill to come due either late this year or early next year.
