Brookfield’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funds, about $870,000, is sitting in the bank.
It’s time to start spending it, said Trustee Mark Ferrara.
The trustees have held a series of meetings to try and solicit ideas from members of the public.
“I think we’ve made a yeoman’s effort to include the public,” Ferrara said May 5. “We have met no less than four times simply on ARPA topics. We went so far as to meet at the park to invite people to weigh in. We’ve been doing this for a minimum of six months. We’ve bent over backwards. I’m ready to make some motions to invest the money into long-term projects.”
On June 5, the trustees authorized these uses of ARPA funds:
- Repair the roof at the township banquet hall, not to exceed $49,500.
- Install a carport behind the administration building, not to exceed $45,000. Police and township vehicles that do not fit in the police garage, including the senior citizens van, and equipment would be housed in the carport.
- Purchase five radios for the police department that would have the capability to use the Multi-Agency Radio Communication System, which is used by Brookfield Fire Department and Ohio Highway Patrol, and traditional bands, for communication with Brookfield Road Department and departments not on MARCS, at a cost of $23,597. The police department received a grant to buy 10 radios, and the ones bought with ARPA money will allow everyone in the department to have one, said Chief Dan Faustino.
- Purchase and install a new, electronic sign at the end of Strimbu Drive to publicize township events, not to exceed $38,500.
- Paint the administration building meeting room and install a 65-inch smart TV, not to exceed $5,000.
- Pressure wash the exterior of the administration building, not to exceed $2,600.
Trustee Dan Suttles said all of the projects were run by legal counsel prior to the authorization and, where possible, multiple cost estimates were obtained.
The trustees previously used ARPA funds to replace a slide at the Jenny Junction playground at Brookfield Township Community Park, and add mulch, and replace the rotting metal culvert on Hubbard Thomas Road.
They also have allocated ARPA money to fix up the gazebo in Brookfield Center, but have not embarked on a project.
Other possible uses for ARPA funds include buying vehicles for the road and fire departments, and connecting generators to the administration building and the fire/road department building. The generators were acquired through a federal military surplus program.
