The Pulaski County Commissioners last week finalized some arrangements for the county’s share of COVID-19 relief funding. The commissioners passed an ordinance directing CARES Act money to be used to reimburse public health and safety payroll costs.
Auditor Laura Wheeler explained that it replaces a previous ordinance which outlined a list of COVID-19-related equipment upgrades and other expenses. Wheeler said the change from specific purchases to payroll reimbursement was recommended by the State Board of Accounts. The end result was that it freed up money in the General Fund, giving the county more spending flexibility. A related additional appropriation of almost $185,000 was finalized by the county council Monday.
The commissioners also approved the submission of a Safety Awareness Coronavirus Relief Fund reimbursement request form. Pulaski County’s share totaled just over $40,000. The state sent out notices to county officials in November, but Commissioner Chuck Mellon said no action was taken before the previous commissioners left office. That money was expected to be sent to the county this week.
The commissioners also held a public hearing to close out the COVID-19 Response Program grant it got from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer said more than $243,000 was distributed to 31 local businesses, with each allocation ranging from just under $4,000 to $10,000.
Grant Administrator Shawn Cain with the Kankakee-Iroquois Regional Planning Commission said she’d gotten a lot of feedback from appreciative business owners, saying the funding helped them bounce back from the COVID-19 shutdown.
Now, Pulaski County is planning to apply for another round of COVID-19 Response Program funding, while the Town of Winamac is planning its own application.
