The Van Buren County Commission voted Tuesday night to transfer its $2.5 million in COVID utility funds to the town of Spencer and Bledsoe County.
The state asked the county to make the transfer as a way to eliminate duplicate applications to the state. Engineer Consultant Zeda Hillis said the commission’s decision will eliminate the county’s role with this money.
“It’s less paperwork, less administrative work for the state and it also if you look at the resolutions that I provided, it completely resolves the responsibility of Van Buren County of administration, reporting and contractual agreements,” Hillis said.
Van Buren County had already agreed to use some $2.1 million of the COVID money to assist Spencer in its water system upgrades. The remaining $475,000 will assist the Fall Creek Falls Utility District which receives support from Bledsoe County.
Commissioners of Committee A approved the transfer earlier this month.
