At a Town Council meeting on Aug. 21, the council unanimously voted to reallocate $280,850 of American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) money for four projects.

At a workshop held prior to the Aug. 21 meeting, Town Manager Michelle Benivegna presented the ARPA reallocation request to the council. The requests were for four projects:

$30,000 for an economic development consultant.

$53,350 for a fire department hose replacement

$85,000 for a fire apparatus brush truck

$112,500 for a public works payloader.

Per the workshop minutes, the total cost of the hose replacement is $103,350; $50,000 is in the current capital budget, and the remaining cost would be funded in next year’s budget. Meanwhile, the total cost for the payloader is $225,000; $112,500 is in this year’s capital budget, and the balance would be funded in next year’s budget.

The economic development consultant position is one the Town has pursued for years, which would ideally allow someone to act as a liaison between the Clinton business community and the Ttown. The council asked the consultant to attend a council meeting in September to introduce themselves.

The council formally approved the spending plan at the regular meeting following the workshop.

In 2022, it was announced that Clinton would receive about $3.8 million of federal money from ARPA to help mitigate the financial effects of the COVID-19 virus.

While the Town has allocated some of the money in the two years since, there has still been money left to be allocated as some projects came in under budget. All money for the projects must be obligated to be spent by Dec. 31, 2024. The projects must then be completed by the end of 2026.

“Making sure all of the money is spent is a good challenge for a town to have, but it is still a challenge,” Town Council Chairman Carrie Allen said regarding obligating the remaining ARPA money earlier this year.

In the past, the Town has spent money on items relating to recreation, infrastructure, public safety, tourism, nonprofits, small businesses, and human service support.