Greensburg officials lay out plans for 1st payment of American Rescue Plan funds

Greensburg officials plan to use money from the first payment of federal covid relief funds to help build a new public works building that will replace one destroyed in a 2019 fire.

In all, the city will receive more than $1.47 million from the American Rescue Plan. Funds will be distributed in two payments, the first of which — totaling almost $738,600 — was already received by the city, officials said during Monday’s city council meeting.

Of that, about $300,000 will go toward constructing the new Department of Public Works building on South Urania Avenue. City officials began planning for the 12,960-square-foot building last year, which will have open bays for city vehicles and new office space for city workers.

An additional $290,585 will be used to purchase a street sweeper also damaged in the fire. The new street sweeper is expected to arrive this month.

In addition to bolstering the city’s public works department, about $50,000 from the first payment will be set aside for capital improvements and adaptations to city hall to implement covid-19 mitigation tactics. Funds will also be used to hire three employees that were not replaced after retirements last year because of budget restrictions caused by the pandemic.

City council members during Monday’s meeting unanimously voted to ratify an application for the funds, which was submitted in June. The initial application did not include details on how to money will be spent, said city Administrator Kelsye Hantz.

A second payment, which will also total about $738,600, will be received next year.

“We have not decided what we’re going to do with the second half of it, that’s still up in the air,” said Greensburg Mayor Robert Bell.

Funds from the American Rescue Plan must either be spent or allocated by the end of 2024.