CHENEY – The City Council approved the receipt of $372,300 in funding from the federal Coronavirus, Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act at its June 23 meeting. In doing so, Cheney became the last city on the West Plains to authorize the receipt of a portion the $2 trillion Congress awarded in April to help economies around the nation deal with COVID-19.
Washington state received $2.95 billion of that funding, awarding cities and counties a portion on a per capita basis. The grant funding can only be used to address COVID-19 programs and expenses, and involves the city spending its own money at first and then following up with reimbursement from the grant proceeds.
“It has to be for things that are qualified COVID fighting expenses,” Cheney Finance Director Cindy Niemeier said. Some of those expenses include masks, gloves and respirators purchased by the Fire Department, she added, and is only used on a reimbursement basis.
Niemeier said there are other things the city is looking at using the funding for that are COVID-19 related, such as providing utility help for residents experiencing difficulty paying bills and some small business “enhancement grants” for purchasing personal protective equipment during the ongoing pandemic.
“There’s some variety of topics we can talk about that,” Niemeier added.
Councilman Paul Schmidt said the funding it “pretty limited,” providing reimbursement mainly for eligible COVID, and FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) expenses.
“Considering all that, 372 doesn’t go that far,” Schmidt said. “It’s much appreciated, and it will help, but it’s pretty limited for what is eligible and what we can get reimbursed for. It went fast.”
Council also approved an ordinance — getting all three readings and final passage last Tuesday — establishing a special revenue fund to account for the CARES funding.
Council also approved a one-year, $7,500 agreement between the city and Eagle Sports Properties, LLC for advertising the city Light Department’s Conservation Program at Eastern Washington University Athletic events for the 2020-2021 season. The city has been involved in the program with EWU for a number of years — with the expenditures being reimbursed from the Bonneville Power Administration’s Conservation Program.
“BPA collects the funds from us when we purchase electricity, and then gives it back to us when we invest in conservation programs,” Light Department Director Steve Marxx said. The city spent around $90,000 on the LED light bulb program recently, sending residents free bulbs to help with energy conservation.
Typically, the agreement between Cheney and EWU is for two years. City Administrator Mark Schuller said the city elected to go with a one-year contract due to uncertainties surrounding sports seasons as a result of the continued spread of COVID-19.
Finally, the council agreed to a $16,250 amendment to a contract with Ripplinger Professional Services to provide for an engineering design and estimate on proposed changes in the electrical distribution system at the city’s Commerce and Industrial Park.
Marxx said $50,000 had been put in the budget to provide for these types of services. The original agreement was set up in February, 2018 to provide services “as needed.”
The project involves construction of a 10 megawatt loop that will provide more power to all of the lots. One potential customer has indicated their operation would consume up to six MW.
“The system can do six now, but anything above that, the system can’t provide it,” Marxx said.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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