Members of a Lake County Board special committee on pandemic investment and recovery tasked with doling out $135 million in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act have their work cut out for them after receiving more than 75 project applications last fall from entities seeking a share of $45 million the county has left to distribute.
The Special Committee on COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery and Investment, a subcommittee that reports to the County Board’s Financial and Administrative Committee, met Friday for a presentation and discussion of more than 79 project proposals that were scored by the consulting firm Bronner Group on factors such as countywide impact, community feedback alignment, readiness, equity, budget and impact and effort.
Lake County has dispersed approximately $90 million of the ARPA funds so far, and all funds must be used Dec. 31, 2026.
Special committee chair Paul Frank, D-Highland Park, said the county is in a position “where a lot of these projects scored highly” and that members would have to decide how much they are willing to spend on.
“Maybe we want to not spend all of the remaining $35 to $40 million on these ARPA allocation projects, maybe we do,” Frank said. “It’s a decision for us because there are some other things out there board members and the county are looking at.”
Committee vice chair Michael Danforth, R-Fox River Grove, said that among 79 applications the county scored, “some, if not all of those projects are going to be worthy of serious consideration.”
Brenda O’Connell, Lake County’s community development administrator, also updated the board on the Lake County Rental Assistance Program, which is set to wind down over the summer as the county disburses the last portion of $6 million it was granted in county board ARPA allocation.
O’Connell said the program, which has funded more than 400 households with up to six months of rent assistance since its launch last year, has been successful in helping both tenants avoid evictions and landlords receive rent payments.
“Can we continue to make sure that rental assistance is flowing to those populations? We’re asking all those questions with our providers,” O’Connell said. “The providers are continuing to see new need and most of that is around, housing is expensive, food is expensive, basic needs are expensive.”
Another possible destination for ARPA dollars, premium pay for Lake County Sheriff’s Office deputies and corrections offers, was not among the proposals analyzed by the consultant, though it is on the radar for board members.
Committee member Linda Petersen, R-Antioch, asked whether a request for premium pay for Lake County Sheriff’s Office employees and corrections officers was factored into county staff’s $10-$20 million “soft cap” range that had previously been discussed for the round of project considerations. Assistant county administrator Matthew Meyers confirmed that board members will still have to consider premium pay outside of the scope of the 79 project pitches.
“I think we have to look at, like Paul (said), at other things we haven’t really given a lot of attention to and look at those, too,” Petersen said.
Petersen’s question followed Javier Perez’s public comment imploring the board to add to a vote on the topic to a future meeting agenda.
“The federal government who gave our county ($135.2 million) recognized the daily sacrifices and unconscionable working conditions that your law enforcement employees experienced,” Perez said. “We ask you take serious consideration of awarding additional compensation to the people who were not able to work from home in the pandemic like most of your civilian employees did and in fact were forced by obligation of their duty to confront the coronavirus in person.”
Gail Weil, executive director of the Community Youth Network Counseling Center, called for the county during public comment to give serious consideration to a proposal to expand the center’s physical space to serve more clients.
“We are seeing an unprecedented need for mental health services in Lake County,” Weil said.
Member Jessica Vealitzek, D-Hawthorn Woods, asked if underspending in general on items of mental health was factored into scoring.
Bronner Group consultant Alex Iseri said that, on average, projects related to mental health and substance abuse scored better than most other categories.
Improving broadband service and access for Lake County residents is another area some county board members want to prioritize.
“I know (Special Committee on Broadband) Chair (Jennifer) Clark came to the committee,” Meyers said. “I know some dollar value thoughts have been tossed around a little bit. Premium pay certainly has been an item that has come up over the last couple of weeks.
“There’s certainly an opportunity to fund additional rounds for rental (assistance), as Brenda (O’Connell) had spoke on this morning,” he added. “Food distribution needs are still evident based on the amount of funds we’re spending and the rate.”
“This is the hard part,” Frank noted near the end of the meeting, “when we’re getting down to the end of the ARPA dollars.