by Carrie Moritz, Gazette
On Monday, Dec 28, the Garretson City Council held a special meeting to approve supplemental appropriations. Due to a computer issue, they were unable to approve it at the December council meeting. At the same time, they had a second reading regarding joining Tree City USA, discussed a variance requesting steel siding on an outbuilding, and had a first reading on changing the setback ordinance from 30 feet to 25 feet.
The supplemental appropriations request was large for 2020, but as City Finance Officer Anna Uhl explained, it went hand in hand with the CARES Act funding.
The City had received $259,000 in CARES Act funds, which was more than the City was able to utilize, which means some will be sent back. This is due to the restrictions placed on amounts allowed for different areas and the required use by date of January 31, 2021.
With the funds, Uhl was able to cover the Sheriff's Department salary and cover radio upgrades for the ambulance and the fire department as well as upgrade the City's computer system to a professional grade, purchase tablets for the council so they can work from home as needed, and upgrade City reporting systems with those funds.
The Sheriff's Department did not require any extra amount from the City this year; this means that being able to cover their salary with this funding opened up an extra $60,000 the City could use elsewhere.
The radio systems are required to be upgraded, and they are an expensive endeavor for our two volunteer departments, Uhl explained. The City was limited on the proportions they were able to spend on the two departments. Otherwise, Uhl said, they could have easily spent the entire CARES Act funding on upgrading the radios due to their expense.
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