County could receive more COVID funds even as half of CARES Act money unspent

By Buck Collier, Special Correspondent
Posted 11/11/20

HERMANN — Gasconade County government could receive more federal dollars to deal with coronavirus expenses even as about half of the county’s CARES Act money remains unspent as the …

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County could receive more COVID funds even as half of CARES Act money unspent

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HERMANN — Gasconade County government could receive more federal dollars to deal with coronavirus expenses even as about half of the county’s CARES Act money remains unspent as the use-it-or-lose-it deadline looms.

Presiding Commissioner Larry Miskel, R-Hermann, Thursday morning noted that after weeks of awaiting word he has finally heard from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) about additonal coronavirus-related funds available to the county. However, unlike the $1.725-million CARES Act allotment the county received earlier this year the FEMA money will not be subject to a deadline for use, Miskel said.

It’s not known yet how much money will be available nor is it clear exactly what the parameters are for its use.

As for the CARES Act money, about half of the $1.725 million remains in the bank. County Treasurer Mike Feagan’s monthly financial report shows $861,284 still in the bank. How much of that unused money is available for reimbursement to local government agencies for their virus-related expenses and how much is available for grants to businesses that have lost money because of the virus is unclear. Following the lead of other counties within the Meramec Region, the Gasconade County Commission set aside $700,000 of the $1.725-million CARES Act for the business grant program.

Under the grant program guidelines, two groups of businesses — those with fewer than 20 employees and those with more than 20 workers — and non-profit organizations can apply for funds to make up for dollars lost because of the virus. Businesses with more than 20 employees can apply for up to $50,000 at a time while businesses with fewer than 20 workers can apply for up to $35,000 at a time and non-profits can apply for $25,000. They all can apply more than once.

Missouri Thistle of Owensville initially was approved for a $50,000 grant and then applied three other times for $50,000 each. The County Commission has delayed a vote on those applications until it sees how many other businesses seek a share of the grant money.

Couny administrators have express surprise that more businesses have not sought a share of the funds; indeed, they have been encouraging local businesses to contact the Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) about the application process.

MRPC contracts with Gasconade County, and six of the other seven counties in the Meramec Region, to administer the CARES Act money. The federal government has placed a Dec. 30 deadline on the use of the money. However, MRPC has set a deadline of Dec. 20 to receive applications. Any of the money not spent by Dec. 30 must be returned to the federal treasury.

County officials are anxious to learn more about the money that will be passed down through FEMA. “I’m going to do some more research on this,” Miskel said during last week’s Commission session held at Owensville City Hall.

Considering that half the CARES Act  money remains in the bank and county administrators are concerned that a substantial amount of it might have to be returned to the federal government, just what the FEMA money will be used for is unclear. “If you’ve got some idea of what to do with the money, we’ll look into it,” Miskel said to those in the audience.

Meanwhile, the presiding commissioner is urging the public to be more understanding of the job being done by contact tracers of the Gasconade County Health Department. An increase in the number of virus cases in the county has prompted the health agency to shut its doors to allow staff to make contacts without distractions, working most recently on what Miskel described as a “7-day-a-week” program. But some of the contacts being made by health agency workers is being met with resistance.

“They’re here to help protect our health  and our lives,” Miskel said. “Be a little more considerate, if you will,” he encouraged.

County Clerk Lesa Lietzow recognized the effort of the Health Department in making sure those in quarantine were able to cast a ballot Nov. 3. “The Health Department got the word out to everyone on quarantine,” Lietzow said. “We voted a lot of people” who were on quarantine, she said.

Tomorrow, the County Commission will be meeting with all elected officials and the incoming coroner and public administrator about the 2021 operating budget. Initial work has begun by the County Clerk’s Office in crafting an operating budget for the fiscal year that begins Jan. 1. The budget of a third-class county normally isn’t in place by Jan. 1. Final approval usually is given later in the month.

Also tomorrow, the Commission should learn the size of the November sales tax check, reflecting the sales made in the county during October. County officials are hoping this month’s check will be another strong one, moving the county closer to the projected sales tax total of $1,016,000 for the year.