One of Fond du Lac's proposed ARPA-funded projects won't move forward in time. Here's what will be funded instead.
FOND DU LAC — In its final meetings before swearing in the next generation of council members, Fond du Lac City Council approved an update to ARPA fund allocation.
Fond du Lac received $13,792,153 from the American Rescue Plan Act since 2021 to maintain public services and support recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Funds need to be committed by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.
Of the funds, $800,000 was set aside in 2022 for the "Catalytic Downtown Historic Project" to assist with the revitalization of historic downtown property, but as of this year, that project won't move forward in time to meet the deadlines.
City Director of Administration Tricia Davi said at the March 27 meeting the project is still viable and needs to move forward, but it won't be at a position where the city can enter into any contracts or make any commitments in time.
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City staff put together a list of replacement projects, broken down into two sections. Non-discretionary projects, which are time sensitive projects that have been bid and need additional funds because bids came in over budget, will get $307,000, and the remaining $493,000 will go to non-time sensitive discretionary projects that would meet the ARPA deadlines.
All projects also align with ARPA requirements of ensuring government services can maintain vital public services and support strong, resilient and equitable recovery, as well as the city's goal to use the funds for one-time projects to avoid operational funding cliffs in the future.
Non-discretionary projects include infrastructure, parks and the fairgrounds pool
On March 27, council approved the three non-discretionary projects.
Pavement repairs at Division and Brooke streets will get $180,000, and the improvements will follow the conclusion of the Division Street Bridge Project, marking the last phase of infrastructure improvements needed for the Brooke Street Lofts development.
The Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds pool will get $57,000 to replace the waterslides and railings. Bids came in higher than budgeted, and ARPA funds will allow the city to fulfill the project all at once, instead of repairing equipment piece by piece.
The last $70,000 will go to the McDermott Park landscaping plan, after bids for all components of the plans came in higher than the city allocated in its original ARPA plan, which includes an ice rink project.
Discretionary projects include the riverfront, a playground and the Boys & Girls Club
After discussing their options March 27, the city council revisited the discretionary projects April 10 and approved allocations for the remaining $493,000.
Boys & Girls Club of Fond du Lac will get $128,000 to contribute to youth care opportunities. Council requested this instead of using the money on fiber network expansion, which can still appear in a future capital improvement plan.
McKinley Park will get $100,000 to upgrade its playground, which was built in 2002. While the city has invested in park improvements within the Qualified Census Tract (QCT) in the western part of Fond du Lac, McKinley Park sits in the northeastern part of the city, a few blocks north of its QCT. New playground equipment would upgrade the park, benefiting the surrounding neighborhood.
The riverfront development plan will receive two allocations: $175,000 to purchase a currently for-sale property on the riverfront near Forest Avenue — one of the areas eyed for future public space development — and $90,000 to demolish the blighted building on the property and prepare it for development as part of the plan.
Fairgrounds plan in partnership with the county also gets an update
Budget discussions in November 2023 included using some of the city's remaining ARPA funds to partner with the county in enhancing the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds.
As of March 27, the $375,000 the city earmarked for the fairgrounds stage is now on the project plan.
According to Davi, the county has signed all agreements and contracts to move forward with the project, and work will be starting on the stage at any time.
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Here's where else the ARPA funds were allocated since 2022
ARPA funds have so far been allocated to the inclusive playground at Plamore Park and other improvements at Franklin, Hamilton and McDermott parks, as well as a stormwater flooding study and other projects focused on infrastructure.
Funds were also allocated to security, including equipment and software upgrades, employee incentives and more for the police, fire and rescue departments.
Projects for 2024 include improvements to the Information Technology Services Department, a Food Hall Business Incubator and support for Fond du Lac historical preservation, split between the Fond du Lac Public Library's update of the local history book and the Fond du Lac County Historical Society.
More about Fond du Lac ARPA funds and other city budget items is available on the Finance/Comptroller section of the city's website, fdl.wi.gov.
Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Fond du Lac Reporter: Fond du Lac updates ARPA plan as one project won't meet the deadline