HERMANN — The dozens of families arriving this afternoon at the Hermann Area Food Pantry might receive a few more grocery items than they would have, thanks to an emergency action Thursday by the Gasconade County Commission approving the pantry’s request for a share of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann, passed along to the other county administrators a request from Food Pantry President Bartow Malloy to have the agency’s ARPA request expedited in order to avoid a shortfall of funds that would jeopardize continued service to families within the Gasconade County R-1 School District. In November 77 families were served by the Food Pantry with the agency spending just less than $10,000 to purchase food items to help fill out the supplies issued to each family.

“They are in desperate need for funds,” Miskel said, noting that the Food Pantry did not apply for CARES Act money but did file an application for ARPA funds. “I’m advocating that we expedite this (application) to benefit the food bank,” he said. The associate commissioners agreed with the fast-track of the Food Pantry’s request.

“I don’t have any problem with it,” said Southern District Associate Commissioner Jerry Lairmore, R-Owensville. “There is a need,” he added.

Northern District Associate Commissioner Jim Holland, R-Hermann, echoed those comments in joining the other commissioners to approve an allocation of $50,000 to the Hermann Food Pantry.

The panel’s action will be forwarded to Meramec Regional Planning Commission, which processed the applications filed for a portion of the county’s $2.8-million ARPA allocation. The check to the Food Pantry will be cut by County Treasurer Mike Feagan.

Miskel noted that the Food Pantry’s application was one of many submitted for funding from the county’s second $1.4-million installment of post-COVID-recovery funds from the federal government. After allocating about $600,000 from the first $1.4-million installment, there remains about $2.3 million on hand.

The applications made during the second round of funding were placed on hold until the county can determine what it will cost to construct an elevator at the courthouse. That project will use ARPA money, a move made possible by a change in the program shortly after the second installment was received. At that time, the federal government told counties that they could claim up to a$10 million of their ARPA allotments for their own use — as a way to compensate the local governments for loss of tax revenue resulting from the coronavirus pandemic. That meant Gasconade County could claim all $2.8 million for its own use, even though the pandemic has not hurt the county. Indeed, the county has just posted its third consecutive year for General Fund sales tax revenue with slightly more than $1.2 million received this calendar year.

“I know there are other people who have applications in,” Miskel said.

How long it will be until those applicants know if they will receive any of the funding is unclear. The county has yet to obtain a construction cost estimate for the elevator project.

Counties have until the end of 2024 to commit the use of their ARPA money; they have until the end of 2026 to actually spend the money. Unspent funds are to be returned to the federal treasury.