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Buckingham County has been cautious with its American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Other counties and towns have long since spent their allotment, but Buckingham has been using it almost as an emergency fund, tackling projects as they come up.

Buckingham Supervisors voted to fund several more projects through ARPA funds this week, during their Monday, Aug. 12 meeting.

Buckingham County Administrator Karl Carter outlined multiple projects the county’s finance committee had recommended for approval. Just as a reminder, ARPA funds were given out by the federal government to counties to spend on county operations, as a way of re-igniting the economy after the COVID-19 pandemic. They do come with some restrictions. They can’t be used for just anything.

The federal guidelines say ARPA money can be spent on “investments in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure,” as well as general economic recovery or any project providing “economic assistance to small businesses, households, and hard-hit industries.” In this case, the finance committee looked at a list of different proposals and weighed both the benefits and if they fit the requirements.

Projects approved through ARPA funds

First off, $150,000 will go to pay for a smaller EMS vehicle, to have on hand as a spare in case one breaks down in an emergency. A brand new full-size vehicle runs about $300,000, but county officials didn’t want a large one like that sitting on the sidelines as a spare. Carter compared it to church vans or something a little smaller, in terms of size. 

“EMS had an ambulance that was pretty much worn out,” said Supervisor Cameron Gilliam. He is part of the county’s finance committee that helped make these recommendations. “We were at the face of spending a lot of money on the one that was broke down and we didn’t want the taxpayer taking a chance (on that), so we thought, this money came from a grant and we can buy a new ambulance.” 

Also in the recommendations was $70,000 to the Buckingham County Sheriff’s Department for dispatch headsets. The goal here, Gilliam said, was to keep deputies off their phones while driving.

“The money for the sheriff gives deputies a headset so they can talk hands free, where they don’t have to have a phone up to their ear while they’re driving. That gives them a safer environment.” 

Also included in the recommendations as $27,600 to provide new radios for both animal control and all fire departments. Part of the problem the county’s having with the communication system comes from the equipment, Carter said. The different departments all have different types of cheaper radios, because that’s what they could afford. This will cover the cost of walkie talkies that will work with the county’s system. Each fire department in the county will receive five and animal control will get two. 

Supervisors approved all requests.