HOPE – It’s not every day that Bartholomew County’s second-largest community finds itself with an unexpected $500,000.
Last June, the town of Hope received $250,000 through the American Rescue Plan (ARP), with an equal amount expected late this spring. Now, the town has to decide how to spend that money.
Hope Town Council members threw out suggestions on how to spend the federal COVID-19 relief money at the council meeting this week.
Council members did unanimously approve the purchase of two air-cooled generators. One that will serve the building housing both the town hall and police department will cost $9,930. The other, which is for for the town’s utility building at 529 Mill St., has a price tag of $10,380.
Hope Town Marshal Matt Tallent informed the council he has applied for a matching grant to purchase either a new pickup truck or sports utility vehicle at a cost of $45,000. If that grant is awarded, Tallent says he plans to request that ARP monies be used to pay for the town’s matching funds. No objections were voiced.
Approval was also given for the purchase of additional security cameras for $8,864, as well as the allocation of $10,000 to replenish a shortfall from Hope’s sanitary sewer operations last year.
While no vote was taken, there was a consensus that a new roof is necessary for the 40-year-old utility building. When the current roof was installed, the panels lapped each other the wrong way, which is why the building has sustained a number of leaks over time, utility superintendent David Clouse said.
The most common item on the council’s wish list is the installation of new or upgraded sidewalks.
“We need to start setting aside funds for new sidewalks,” council President Jerry Bragg said. “That’s been an issue since I’ve been on the council.”
While one council member asked if additional sidewalks could be added along Main Street (State Road 9), the answer was no. That’s because State Road 9 and it’s right of way is under the jurisdiction on the Indiana Department of Transportation, which has already turned down a similar request.
Another suggestion was made that a sidewalk be installed for Goshen Meadows students, as well as others living south of Hauser Drive. However, such a project could be both difficult and expensive since that walkway would have to cross private property.
Council members were in favor of a sidewalk along County Road 775E, from South Street down to Hauser Drive. Several children walk along that road to get back and forth from classes and extracurricular activities.
Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. might be willing to share a degree of financial responsibility for the new walkway, council members said. Over three separate allotments, the Hope-area schools will receive a total of over $1.15 million in COVID relief funds through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER).
However, the criteria for spending Flat Rock-Hawcreek federal funds is considerably different from that for a government agency, town attorney Scott Andrews said. In addition, school administrators have already expressed their own wish list that ranges from additional temporary staff to summer school transportation.
“But school officials have not gotten into depth on how they are going to spend their money,” Andrews said.
Hope officials say they will discuss the matter with school administrators to see if any type of arrangement can be worked out.
The ARP funds could be used in connection with one of the community’s largest upcoming projects. The town is seeking a utility planning grant through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. If the plan itself is approved, a direct sewage line will be installed from the Goshen Meadows Lift Station to a wastewater treatment facility.
The benefits will include stopping the current mixing of gray water with storm water behind the Hope Moravian Church, while relieving the lift station from wastewater generated by several residences, apartments and businesses, Clouse said.
The utilities supervisor suggested that some ARP money be used as matching funds for grants from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. In addition, some of that capital might be invested in actual work, Clouse said.
Other ideas brought up for consideration by council members during Monday’s special session include:
- Investing money for a new town hall.
- Upgrading facilities where people frequently congregate.
- Make funds available for some businesses hurt by the pandemic
- Helping new businesses get a start.
- Securing storage area for town-owned property
Hope officials have until Dec. 31, 2024 to designate where the federal dollars will be allocated, and an additional two years to spend it.
