By Josh Margolis
HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – In a unanimous decision on Thursday afternoon, the three Hill County Commissioners rejected a resolution that would allocate up to $100,000 in ARPA funds to the Health Department for COVID prevention efforts that they previously voted to provide back in September.
“(Chair) Diane McLean decided that she didn’t want to give the full $100,000 for a period of time because she felt that there was maybe some other opportunities for some of that money to be used for other needs,” Commission Vice-Chair Mark Peterson told New Media Broadcasters in a brief phone conversation late Friday morning. “So she didn’t want to obligate that entire 100 percent of the $100,000 for that time period. And I guess that’s the best way to put it.”
Health Director Kim Berg has repeatedly requested the funds, which the Commission apparently never signed off on.
“I’m just kind of at a loss,” Berg told New Media Broadcasters by phone on Friday morning. “I don’t even know what else they want from me. So it just kind of comes across as another obstacle for us to jump through to try and get funds that are supposed to be able to be utilized for our work that we’re doing.”
However, the Commission has said they are still open to providing the funds and have scheduled a meeting with Berg at 11 AM this upcoming Tuesday in their office.
The vote came in a hastily called meeting after the Commission adjourned their morning business meeting without taking a vote. Commissioner Mark Peterson seemed to imply the Commission was in favor of the resolution but wanted to wait until Chair Diane McLean was present, as the other Commissioners said she was at a spelling bee.
“I just don’t feel comfortable voting with just two of us. I think all of us need to be aware of what’s going on,” Peterson said in a discussion held immediately after the morning meeting adjourned.
But at the meeting in the afternoon, the Commission expressed concern that Berg could have too much discretion on how to use the funds and floated limiting the allocation to just $50,000. They added that they want to ensure if Berg does not use all of the funds, they are able to be provided to another department.
According to current ARPA rules, ARPA funds must be allocated by the end of 2024 and must be spent by the end of 2026.
Berg was at the meeting in the morning but was not at the one in the afternoon, and she tells New Media Broadcasters that she wasn’t even notified about it. In the morning, Berg said she may be tied up in another meeting when the Commission reconvenes in the afternoon, but she would welcome a phone call.
At the Commission’s request, Berg provided them with a copy of an expense report showing that her Department had to use over $21,620 from their general fund dollars to cover COVID related costs from July 2021 through January 2022. She said she could provide the Commission with monthly reports on how the funds are being utilized.
“I have these (expense reports) all the time, because I have to keep track of my grants…so if you want to see it anytime, you can,” Berg said at the morning meeting.
She has said it is crucial they receive the funds in short order so that they are able to provide funding for efforts such as contact tracing as the pandemic continues.
Other action taken by the Commission at their morning business meeting:
- A 2-0 vote to approve an Amended Plat for Ron Harmon for the Talbot Subdivision
- The tabling of the Hill County Council on Aging’s Commodity Distribution Contract, a Policy Change regarding Employee Record Policy, and Procurement Policy
This story has been updated to include additional comment from Mark Peterson
