SCBC discuss how to spend $5 million in COVID relief Funds

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners met offsite on Tuesday in a special called meeting to discuss how to spend funds from the American Rescue Plan.

As WNEG News previously reported, Stephens County is receiving $5 million in COVID-relief funds; however, those funds have specific requirements and guidelines on how they can be spent.

County Administrator Phyllis Ayers explained that the funds must be used for COVID mitigation or closely related to the mitigation of COVID-19.

She continued by saying the county has a deadline to obligate all funds.

Expenditures incurred/obligated must be between March 3, 2021 and December 31, 2024.

Ayers presented the board with a list of potential projects.

That list included projects like a new roof for the Stephens County Jail, a new Elections Building, Recreation Bathrooms, Economic Development Sewer Lift stations, vans to transport road workers, PPE equipment, Partner with Vendor for Broadband, Video Conferencing equipment, indigent care to hospital, indigent care to Open Arms Clinic, Health Department Office Renovations, a Mobile Command Vaccination Center, and other projects.

The Commissioners then selected their top picks from the list.

The majority of the commissioners selected a new Roof for the Stephens County Jail, a new Elections Building, Economic Development Sewer Lift Stations, and Video Conferencing Equipment.

However, no formal decision was made to obligate any funds towards any one specific project.

The Commission will meet again in the coming weeks to further narrow down their list.

WNEG News will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.