Village approves allowance for spending Rescue Plan Act funds

NEW BREMEN — Councilors Monday night passed an emergency resolution authorizing the village to use the standard allowance for the local Fiscal Recovery Fund as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act.

“This is stipulating how we can spend the money,” said Mayor Bob Parker.

The American Rescue Plan Act — passed last year by Congress — created the Local Fiscal Recovery Fund which provides funding to all cities and counties in the U.S.

“Our first report is due to the treasury by April 30. They now have an election on there that you can elect this one-time declaration for revenue loss but not have to prove revenue loss,” said Fiscal Officer Amy Speelman. “If we elect it on this report, it doesn’t mean we have to do it, but it’s an option. It opens up different ways we can use those funds.”

Speelman said the funds could be used for any type of road maintenance or other infrastructure items; any of the village’s government administrative facilities; for police and fire for any other public safety service which would include purchase of firetrucks, police vehicles, police wages, etc.

“Or we can use it for the water/wastewater project,” she said. The money has to be spent by 2024.

Also Monday, Village Administrator Brent Richter said that the village’s grant application for a loan through the Ohio Public Works Commission for work to be done on state Route 274 was deemed “ineligible.”

“It was deemed ineligible because they consider it a standalone project since we weren’t doing the whole street at once,” said Richter. “I argued that it’s Ohio money — ODOT and OPWC — and it is done together. We argued as much as we could without jeopardizing anything so I think it is what it is. Seems like that’s the final ruling unfortunately.”

The village plans to replace the curbs and gutters along the state route before ODOT comes in to reconstruct the road in 2024. In other business:

• Council passed and approved Ordinance 2022-03-08 which approves KATS Real Estate LLC setback variance at Lot 23 at the Bunker Hill Industrial Complex. The setback goes from 75 feet to 55 feet under the new ordinance.

• Council passed and approved Ordinance 2022-03-09 which adding a uniform and clothing policy to the village’s employee handbook.

• Council completed a second reading of an ordinance entering into a Community Reinvestment Act with KATS Real Estate LLC.

• Council held a second reading of an ordinance that would transfer Lot 22 at the Bunker Hill Industrial Park from the village of New Bremen to the Community Improvement Corp.

• Council held a second reading of an ordinance that would approve a sign variance for Faith Alliance Church.

• Council passed the second reading of an ordinance that would allow Amsterdam Center LLC to replat a lot in the shipping center to build the restaurant.

The ordinance would allow the lot to be split into two. Richter said that northwest parcel is being “rectangled off” for a new lot which is 1.283 acres.

• During his report, Richter said that the outside contractor who was in town to replace electrical poles has completed his work and the only ones left are ones that will be completed by village crews.

• Council Tess Elshoff read March receipts as $1,602,284.68 and April expenses were $1,221,459.69.

• The next council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on May 9 at the village office.