CLINTON — The DeWitt County board voted recently to pay for a group of county projects from ARPA (American Recovery Plan Act) funds.

Members approved $149,856 for an aerial imagery flight to be paid from ARPA funds. 

Board member Joe Witte questioned if covering the cost of the flight from ARPA funds would take money away from other projects. 

“I’m not opposed to doing it,” Witt said.  “I just wonder if we have a good feel for where the money is for all the other projects.”

Christina Deerwester agreed with Witte, feeling it was inappropriate to use ARPA money for the flight.

Terry Ferguson said county department heads were surveyed about the project and that at least three or four were in favor of it going forward.

Board chairman Dan Matthews said he was in favor of using the funds for the flight.

“We’re in a window now where we have other money we can use for budgeting for some of the other projects,” Matthews said.  “The next two motions need to get approved and done so we …not lose any of those (ARPA) dollars.”

Subsequently, the board also approved $89,000 in ARPA funds for historic document scanning in the County Clerk’s office.  Approximately $74,000 will be paid from the County Clerk’s budget to conduct document indexing.  The work involves records from 1985-2005.

Appointments

The board appointed Kyle Kopp to fill the unexpired term of J. David Vance on the Rutledge Empire Drainage District.  Kopp’s term will expire on the first Tuesday of September 2027.

The board also reappointed Steve Perring to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a term to expire on September 30, 2029.  Also reappointed to the ZBA with terms ending September 30, 2029 were James Powers and Jed Reynolds.

And, the board appointed Bob Kuntz to the ZBA, also with a term ending the same time.

Property committee

Board members approved $6,209.95 to Trimble Plumbing to replace a toilet/sink combination in the holding area of the county jail. 

“This is some maintenance work that needs to be done in the jail,” reported Terry Ferguson, committee chairman.  “It’s ready to go upon your approval.”

Ferguson also reported contractors scheduled to perform tuckpointing work on the county building had not shown up on the dates expected.

“I guess they’ll be here sometime,” Ferguson said.

The work is set to be completed by the end of November and will be paid for using ARPA funds. 

Ferguson said the county maintenance manager had been in contact with the contractors.

Road and bridge committee

The board approved an updated resolution for salary and expenses for the DeWitt County engineer.

“Back in July, we essentially approved the same thing at the county board meeting,” said committee chairman Jamie Prestegaard.  “But, the state came back and said they needed it on the state’s form.  So, we need to reapprove this.”