Westmoreland officials seek public input for spending $105 million in covid relief funds

Sep. 9—Westmoreland County spent just more than 1% of the $105 million it expects to receive in relief funds from the American Rescue Plan and wants the public's ideas for how the bulk of the remaining cash should be used.

Commissioners posted a bare-bones survey on the county's web page that asks residents to identify general categories for where the money is to be directed. Categories include infrastructure and broadband projects, public health programs, grants for small business, nonprofits and other agencies to offset costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic and for bolstering human service programs that have experienced increased demand because of the virus.

The survey is required as part of the American Rescue Plan (ARP), and commissioners said responses will be considered as officials craft a blueprint for how the large cash infusion into county coffers will be spent.

"It is taxpayer money, and we want to get a sense from the public in general. We have 348,000 residents and want to hear from everyone around the county, not just those with the loudest voices," Commissioner Sean Kertes said.

The survey can be found at www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/ARPAsurvey.

Groups already are lobbying commissioners about uses for the federal dollars even as officials warned that any concrete spending plan won't be crafted until later this year or in early 2022.

Kertes said a public hearing will be convened in November or December to hear directly from residents.

With Kertes' support, all three commissioners now have called for a public hearing.

"The public hearing will mostly be the main opportunity to hear from the public," Commissioner Gina Cerilli Thrasher said.

Commissioner Doug Chew said the online survey will serve only as a preliminary opportunity for public comment.

"I would favor a professionally constructed survey over any survey that I've seen so far in Westmoreland, but we have to start the process somewhere and that's what we've done here," Chew said. "I feel the public's responses will receive consideration, no matter how they get to us."

The county this spring received the first half of its allocation, more than $52 million, with a second grant expected early next year. Commissioners said all of the money must be allocated by the end of 2024, and all of the cash must spent by Dec. 31, 2026.

Final guidelines that detail permitted uses of the ARP funds are expected to be completed and published in November by the federal government.

According to a report issued last week, the county so far spent about $1.2 million in ARP funds.

The county used more than $277,000 to purchase upgraded 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.

"Public input will be part of the equation," Kertes said about the county's plan to spend the rest of the money. "We want to make sure we have public input."

Rich Cholodofsky is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Rich at 724-830-6293, rcholodofsky@triblive.com or via Twitter .