Westmoreland leaders set to hear from public about how to spend covid relief money

Westmoreland commissioners will conduct two public sessions Thursday to hear recommendations as to how the county should spend $105 million in federal funds allocated for coronavirus recovery programs.

“We just want to hear from residents who have opinions and what thoughts they have,” said Commissioner Sean Kertes.

Both sessions will be conducted in the Science Hall Amphitheater on the Westmoreland County Community College campus near Youngwood. The first scheduled is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a second session from 4 to 7 p.m. Masks are required for everyone in attendance.

Speakers will be required to register on-site no later than 30 minutes before the end of each session.

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than 20 speakers had been preregistered, according to Vera Spina, the county’s chief clerk.

The county received the first half of the federal funding from the American Rescue Plan, more than $52 million, this year. It expects the second installment of the funds to arrive early next year. Officials have until 2026 to spend the money.

Federal guidelines require the money be spent for five specific purposes: To address public health responses; cover the costs related to negative impacts caused by the coronavirus pandemic; reimburse money spent by the government during the pandemic period; fund premium pay for essential county employees as the virus surged; and for water, sewer and broadband internet projects.

While it’s a general buffet of potential uses for the money, commissioners said they anticipate more specific guidance from the federal government this year. As a result, commissioners said a formal spending plan for the money most likely won’t be finalized until 2022.

“It’s going to be all about the restrictions, but we’ll take the public’s recommendations into consideration,” Kertes said.

Members from the Voice of Westmoreland, a progressive-leaning community group, lobbied commissioners during several public meetings at the courthouse this summer about potential uses for the ARP funds and said the group received more than 800 responses in a survey it conducted. They said mental health services, affordable housing and anti-hunger programs should be top priorities for the cash.

The county has also conducted its own survey, which for more than a month has appeared on the county’s website.

More than $1.2 million in ARP funds has already been spent by the county, according to report issued this summer.

The county used more than $277,000 to upgrade computer equipment and another $344,800 for new video conferencing, computer hardware and software.

Another $341,900 was spent to buy portable radios for county jail staff; nearly $248,000 was allocated to give pay raises to poll workers in the spring primary and for the upcoming November election; and $35,300 went toward the purchase of personal protective equipment and signs for a spring vaccination clinic held at the courthouse.