Over $4 million of ARPA funds approved

May 27—Over $4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds was approved to be disbursed between 16 county entities during a Board of County Commissioners special meeting Thursday.

A total of $4,973,703.44 will be disbursed after the first round of awarding funds. Commissioners said they are unsure of when the next round of awarding funds will take place.

The county will have $17,959,007 in funds to allocate. The projects must be selected by 2024 and the funds must be spent by 2026.

None of the 21 applicants addressed at Thursday's meeting were completely disproved. Volunteers for Youth, SafeNet Services, Will Rogers Museum, Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and Rogers County Industrial Development Authority saw their requests stricken down until a later meeting for further questioning.

District II Commissioner Steve Hendrix was the only commissioner to vote no on a proposal. Hendrix said the county needs to decide between what they want and what they need. The county has received twice as many requested dollars than what they have to disburse, he said.

"Again, that falls into something that boy that would be nice to have, but how many people is that going to benefit with this once in a lifetime ARPA money?," Hendrix said.

The complete list of requests from the meeting is:

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NE OK 911 Trust Authority — The authority had two requests. One for $70,088.30 for a cyber security upgrade and a computer center. The second request asked for $195,397.64 to replace eight consoles and individual workspaces with plexiglass. Both requests were approved.

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NW Fire — The fire department originally requested $1,246,376 for premium pay for essential workers, station repairs and bunker gear in November 2021. Since then, the department amended their request and asked for $171,219 for more firefighter personal protective equipment and cleaning equipment for that gear. The request was approved.

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Rogers County Health Department — The health department asked for $2,090,084 to expand their main building and do redo their annexed property. District I Commissioner Dan DeLozier motioned to award about half of the request at $1,090,483. "We've got to help y'all get this, no doubt," he said. The motion was approved.

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Rogers County Emergency Management — RCEM requested $868,571.19 for a list of needs including stand alone internet, panic alarm system, pallets of water, tents and more. The commissioners asked Emergency Management Director Scotty Stokes what his priorities were and took some requests off the list. The total was brought down to $765,440.50 to only include radios, cones, weights for tents, a traffic phone cart, electric stacker, AC, trailer and stand-alone internet. The lowered amount was approved on a 2-1 vote, with Hendrix voting no. "That's why we have three votes," Hendrix said.

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Rural Water District #2 — The water district requested $150,000 to improve water service to 75-100 households. The water district would have $150,000 in matching funds for the project. The request was approved.

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Rural Water District #3 — The water district in the Bushyhead area requested $238,475 for booster pumps that would impact around 411 households. "This is a must," DeLozier said. The district has $715,000 in matching funds for the project. The request was approved.

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Rural Water District #4 — The water district asked for $300,000 for rehabilitation and expansion on its water treatment center. The request was approved.

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Rural Water District #8 — The district requested $150,000 for the South 4180 Road waterline project. The project would improve the flow of water and replace three inch lines with six inch lines, which would allow firefighters to use those lines. The district has $180,000 in matching funds. The request was approved.

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Verdigris Rural Sewage District #1 — The sewage district requested $340,000 for phase one of its lagoon expansion. District III Commissioner Ron Burrows said the area is growing at an extremely rapid rate and is close to a building moratorium. He said the project would allow for the addition of 500 lots. The district has matching funds of $250,000. The request was approved.

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City of Catoosa — The city asked for $275,000 to replace a non-functioning lift station, which serves 400 people. The project would have matching funds from the city and Cherokee Nation. The request was approved.

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Town of Oologah — The town requested $250,000 for waste treatment plant upgrades. The request was approved.

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Town of Inola — The town asked for $750,000 to replace a lift station. The project was contingently approved on the town receiving matching funds.

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Town of Talala — The town requested $120,000 for a waste water treatment plant and collection system improvement project. The town has matching funds of $393,000, pending a CDBG application approval. The project was contingently approved on the town receiving matching funds.

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Volunteers for Youth — The organization asked for $24,000 to help fund their after school program, which struggled with funding after COVID. Commissioners expressed concern over the sustainability of the program. The requested was stricken down and will be discussed again at the next special meeting.

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SafeNet Services — The organization requested $1,056,887.28 to fill four positions including a development director who would help make funding more sustainable for the program. The commissioners said they had more questions and held the request for the next meeting. DeLozier said this is a program the county has to have.

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Children's Advocacy Center — The center asked for $65,000 to buy land and expand its location. Hendrix said the center and the request would be a measurable and tangible asset. The request was approved.

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Boys & Girls Club of Chelsea — The club asked for $150,000 to expand its facility. The club has matching funds and the project was approved.

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Will Rogers Museum — The museum requested $290,214 to repair its fence and to build a new statue of Will Rogers on top of a globe, which would be the first thing visitors see at the museum. Hendrix asked if the Cherokee Nation had been asked to help with the project. A Grand Gateway representative said the Nation is working with the museum on other projects. The museum has matching funds from the state. The request was stricken down and will be held for a later meeting.

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Ed Galloway Totem Pole Park — The park asked for $12,600 to offset the funds lost during the COVID-19 pandemic and keep the park functional. "$12,000 is a no brainer for me," Hendrix said. The request was approved.

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Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance — The alliance requested $1,951,000 to build an advanced manufacturing center at the Port of Catoosa. DeLozier said he would like to see a match on the project. Hendrix said he needs to be sold that the center would enhance workforce development. The request was stricken down and will be held for a later meeting.

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RCIDA Oologah Incubator — RCIDA asked for $500,000 to build a 60' by 150' incubator facility. DeLozier said he would like to hear more from RCIDA. The request was stricken down and will be held for a later meeting.