By DREW LAWSON
Staff Reporter 

Medical Lake receives additional virus relief funds

 

Last updated 9/24/2020 at 10:44am



MEDICAL LAKE — Gov. Jay Inslee handed out more coronavirus relief funds (CRF) obtained by the CARES Act to state municipalities Aug. 31, and the city was the recipient of an additional $75,075 as a result, bringing its total allotment to $225,225.

City Administrator Doug Ross informed Mayor Shirley Maike and received consensus from council regarding his proposal for how to divide the funds at council’s Sept. 15 meeting. He stressed at the meeting that the money is not a check handed out to the city by the state, but is received through a reimbursement process once the city has spent the money.

The state extended the deadline to spend the funds to Nov. 30, and Ross said he expects that deadline will be extended beyond that later.

Up to $20,000 is now allotted for city expenses, an increase from the previous allocation of $17,279. That money could go toward PPE purchases, cleaning products, employee overtime related to COVID-19 and the cleaning of lift stations.

$5,225 is set aside for the West Plains Chamber of Commerce, up from the original $2,720.36. That money will be used for paying the city’s “shared of goods and services purchased and provided to the Chamber to local businesses” and consulting on small business grants, according to meeting documentation.

The city will use the Chamber to help with outreach for small business CRF grants.

An additional $20,000 is set aside for those small business grants. The total went from $100,000 to $120,000. As a result, the maximum amount a business can apply for reimbursement tentatively rose from $7,500 to $10,000, contingent upon how many businesses apply.

The city has yet to create the application template for funding, but two local businesses have inquired about the grants. Ross hopes to have applications prepared by Sept. 23.

Utility bill aide allotment rose from $30,150 to $40,000.

The city has not shut off utilities to any residents, but plans to do door knockers indicating outstanding amounts and where residents can apply for relief. Ross said the city is considering including the application with the door knockers. About 400 residences have outstanding utility payments currently.

An additional $40,000 has yet to be allotted. Council elected to hold onto the money and evaluate what to use it for later, once needs became more apparent. Ross suggested the possibility of a second round of small business grants.

Council also approved Oct. 20 for the annual public hearing of revenue sources, which is also where potential property tax increases are discussed. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the public will have to submit comments in advance in lieu of a physical public comment time.

Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.

 

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