By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
The city of Bowling Green is trying to untangle the strings attached to the $745,329 in CARES Act funding it has received.
Mayor Mike Aspacher told City Council Monday evening that the city is checking on the restrictions so it can determine exactly how the money can be used.
It is clear that the funds may be used to purchase personal protective equipment for staff, as well as equipment to allow for remote work such as cell phones, laptops, Zoom subscription, Aspacher said.
Both the state and federal government also indicate that the funds may be used to pay for unbudgeted expenses related to first responders significantly dedicated to COVID-19 mitigation.
However, there are significant questions as to what that really means and the guidance is conflicting, Assistant Municipal Administrator Joe Fawcett said Tuesday.
Staff recently listened to a teleconference with the Ohio Director of the Office of Budget and Management, who acknowledged this confusion and said the state is awaiting further guidance from the U.S. Treasury Department to ensure proper oversight of these expenditures and compliance when auditing local governments, Fawcett said.
Due to this uncertainty, the city remains cautious of the use of these funds until further guidance is received, according to Fawcett.
Aspacher also said he has plans to talk with city staff about the challenges of COVID and how the city shouldn’t be paralyzed by the virus.
“We need to continue to look at big picture goals,” Aspacher said, noting the need to keep working on planned capital projects.
Also at the meeting, City Council gave a second reading of the ordinance creating a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area in the downtown area. Council member Bill Herald asked that the ordinance be given a third reading and be adopted, so the DORA application could be sent to the state for approval.
Council agreed, and unanimously supported the ordinance.
In other business:
- Council passed a resolution authorizing Aspacher to execute a conservation agreement with the Black Swamp Conservancy. The parks and recreation department has been working with the conservancy since 2018 to negotiate the purchase and get grant funding to purchase an additional 20 acres adjacent to Wintergarden/St. John’s Nature Preserve.
- Council set a public hearing on the proposed Gateway District for July 20, at 6:15 p.m.
- Council scheduled a finance committee meeting for Aug. 3, at 6 p.m.
