SJC approves efforts to spend remaining grant dollars

COLDSPRING — San Jacinto County Commissioners approved the reallocation of ARPA funds, but not without some discussion as to whether it could be done or not.

At the Wednesday regular meeting, the commissioners court talked about getting all remain funds from the American Rescue Plan Act earmarked, since if those funds remained unspent they would revert back to the government.

However, County Judge Fritz Faulkner expressed concerns about the use of ARPA funds to pay for previously purchased materials, as well as a duplication of benefits if ARPA money was used on a project that was funded by other federal funds.

“I don’t know if the auditor folks are going to go for it,” he said.

Commissioner Donnie Marrs said he discussed the matter with the county auditor and the grant administrator, who said it was possible, and pointed out that a previous matter approved by the commission was the same scenario.

Marrs also said that if the audit shows it was in error, then he’ll pay the funds back from other sources, as he has done in the past.

Faulkner reiterated that he was only ensuring that all rules were followed, and was unsure how the precinct could reimburse itself for money that was spent earlier.

In the end, the court approved reallocating the remainder of ARPA funds and use them to pay for the purchase of a building and to pay for road projects in Precincts 3 and 4.

In other business, the court:

• delayed naming board members for the recently created Emergency Services District No. 2 for a lack of nominations;
• canvassed the votes from the Nov. 5 general election;
• approved amending a job descriptions on several items to change language from city to county;
• approved the current fiscal year tax roll;
• approved changing the used of ARPA funds for the Oakhurst Water Supply;
• approved the preliminary plat for the Deer Hollow subdivision;
• approved the repair of brakes on a gradall for $3,000 for Commissioner David Brandon;
• approved a partnership with San Jacinto River Authority for a flood gauge;
• took no action on changing a setback rule because it was not county property and past the statute of limitations on taking action;
• approved preliminary plats for Capital Creek Ranch;
• delayed approving a bid for limestone base material until the county seeks bids as set down by state law;
• approved payment of items of more than $500 for the Sheriff’s Office and Road and Bridge Precincts 1 and 3; and
• approved bonds for Tax Assessor/Collector Betty Davis.