Terre Haute City Council disperses ARPA funds

David Kronke, The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute, Ind.
·3 min read

May 2—The Terre Haute City Council dispersed American Rescue Plan Act money again Thursday night — in one case, re-appropriating funds previously granted to Thrive West Central for its ambitious Homes for the Future project.

Last year, both the City Council and the Vigo County Council had approved grants of $5 million apiece for Thrive West Central. As the nonprofit did not need the money at the time, payment was not transferred to it. Now, Thrive can put the money to use, so a unanimous 7-0 vote sent the funds its way.

Thrive West Central CEO Ryan Keller provided the council with an update on its progress. To date, 271 housing units have been constructed, most of them single family homes, with about 100 apartments for both senior and younger residents, 42 townhomes, 25 rehabilitated residences and six for other nonprofits like Habitat for Humanity.

A public investment of slightly more than $2 million has yielded nearly $58 in private investments, an impressive 28-1 ratio. Thrive's goal is to build 3,250 new affordable market-rate units within five years, or about 650 a year. Keller said Thrive is on schedule to achieve that aspiration. }

In other business, the Council approved $1 million in ARPA money to go to Chances and Services for Youth's proposed east-side childcare facility. CASY COO Brandon Halleck said the project will cost an estimated total of $6.8 million, so he has reached out to a number of outlets for grants and donations. Last month, the County Council likewise approved $1 million for the facility.

It also approved $100,000 for the food pantry Manna from Seven to go to purchasing a refrigerated truck that will transport food to different locations. In the past, it had to rent a truck for $400 one day every week to travel to Indianapolis to pick up food.

In April, the County Council had approved $50,000 to similarly assist Manna from Seven in filling the need of the food desert it is situated in. City Council President Tammy Boland voted against the measure, arguing that most nonprofits go to the United Way for grants. Mayor Brandon Sakbun pointed out the council had voted earlier this year to fund issues related to food deserts.

ARPA funds were also used to pay for consulting services from RJL Solutions and BakerTilly ($300,000) and safety radios for city employees working for parks, transit and wastewater management ($780,984.68) — another re-appropriation from last year.

Money was transferred from the Transit department's budget to contribute $133,188 to the acquisition of five new city buses. And at Mayor Sakbun's request, $5,000 was transferred from a budget for an Administration Assistant to pay for three interns in City Hall that will be recruited from local colleges to work in the Engineering Department.

Sakbun also invited Crowe Consulting Managing Director Tim Berry to present the results of an internal review of the city's past financial practices with the goal of receiving a clean audit from the Indiana State Board of Accounts. It found inconsistencies in how the city had budgeted items in the past, such as the 2024 group health plan. n}

Berry recommended a number of fixes, including reviewing the current financial system and developing appropriate policies and controls. All fees charged by the city should be examined, as well as the possibility of bringing an outside manager in to oversee the city's golf courses at Rea Park and Hulman Links, the latter of which is still operating in the red.

Crowe Consulting's review will be posted on the city's website soon.

David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or at david.kronke@tribstar.com.