FALLS CITY -  Richardson County’s ARPA funds administrator told commissioners Tuesday that each of the six projects seeking American Recovery funds can qualify,  setting up a decision in May in how much to allocate.

Commissioners Rick Karas and John Caverzagie said the county will keep a portion of its $1.5 million for next year’s budget, noting rising costs for road rock and bridges in need of repair.

Commissioners said they will be working to divide the remaining funds between the $1.7 million in requests.

County Attorney Douglas Merz highlighted a proposal by Falls City EDGE to address housing statistics that show 250 houses in the community worn or worn out.

EDGE Director Lucas Froeschl said Falls City has 70 houses that do not have utilities service any longer, but are still standing.

Falls City is partnering with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska on a $9.4 million housing proposal and Froeschl said the ARPA funds could get housing improvements started by acquiring 20 lots and demolishing vacant buildings.

Merz said the ARPA rules would leave the lots as green space or allow construction of low to moderate income housing.

Merz said when distressed properties are removed from a lot, the lot typically sells to a neighbor. Under the ARPA rules, the lots would not be available to extend someone's yard.

He said if the county uses the ARPA funds to set up a separate economic development fund, then cities, villages and organizations can make applications for grants that would not have so many “strings attached” for land use.

Merz: “You wouldn’t have to deal with issues of what do you do with the vacant property once the house is torn down.”

Commissioner Caverzagie said getting the vacant and abandoned buildings removed is a priority.

Froeschl said new housing is also needed. He said Falls City has not had a housing development in 30 years. The current Champions Crossing development has 35 buildable lots for market-rate housing, but builders are faced with rising construction costs.

ARPA Administrator Austin Duerfeldt said the EDGE application qualifies and suggested that other projects might be worded similar to EDGE’s housing program.

Caverzagie said the Rulo library request might best be served under a county-managed economic development fund.

Here are proposed uses of ARPA funds:

  1. Lucas Froeschl of Falls City EDGE, $400,000
  2. City of Humboldt councilman Larry Stauffer and Humboldt Mayor Robert Mendenhall for the Humboldt Volunteer Rescue purchase of ambulance $260,000.
  3. Pastor Jerry Yount and Pastor Tim Boatright for Richardson County House of Hope transitional house for $350,000
  4. Gayle Swisegood, Dale Yoesel, Andy Meinzer, Dean Stevens, Neal Frost, Larry Fisher and Rodney Joy for the East Richardson County Rural Water District No. 2, improvement project, $499,613;
  5. Shannon Hoymeyer for the Village of Rulo, Rulo Public Library for $51,860
  6. Steve Johansen for the Richardson County Drainage District No. 7 for levee stabilization and improvements for $194,315