ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The city of Robertsdale will receive additional federal funds to help the continued local recovery effort from the COVID-19 pandemic.
During a work session held July 6, city officials announced that the city would receive two payments of approximately $800,000 each.
“We’re expecting to receive the first payment any day,” said Robertsdale CFO Joe Driver, “with the other payment to follow next year.”
At its regular meeting June 21, the council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution requesting federal fund distributed from the American Rescue Plan Act through the Alabama Department of Finance.
“Basically we are allowed to get up to 75 percent of our total budget from 2020,” said Mayor Charles Murphy.
City officials have until 2024 to submit a plan of how they are going to spend the money, Driver said, then they have until 2026 to spend the money.
A special account has been set up to receive the funds by direct deposit, officials said.
In May the U.S. Department of Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial and Tribal governments.
“State local, territorial and Tribal governments have been on the frontlines of responding to the immense public health and economic needs created by this crisis,” according to a release issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury. “As a result, these governments have endured unprecedented strains, forcing many to make untenable choices between laying off educators, firefighters and other frontline workers or failing to provide other services that communities rely on.”
According to the Resolution, the city of Robertsdale is classified as an indirect recipient and fuds requested will be distributed from the non-entitlement units, which have been allocated $19.5 billion to assist in Coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery applications.
According to the resolution, the city council authorized Mayor Charles Murphy to execute financial applications on behalf of the city in securing funds.
According to the release, the funds allocated will provide relief to:
Funds will provide flexibility for each jurisdiction to meet local needs, according to the release, including support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers and the communities hardest-hit by the crisis. Funds also deliver resources the recipients can invest in building, maintaining or upgrading their water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Local governments should expect to receive 50 percent of the funds in 2021 with the balance delivered 12 months later, according to the release.
City officials also said during the work session that they are nearing completion of the reimbursement process with FEMA for debris removal and electrical expenses incurred following Hurricane Sally last September.
In other business July 6, the council tabled a vote to enter a plan agreement with AirMedCare to provide helicopter service at no cost should those on the plan or their families need service and the service is provided by a helicopter in the AirMedCare plan network.
Council member Paul Hollingsworth said he wanted more time to study the plan before voting on it.
“I’m all for providing more benefits for our employees,” he said. “I’m just not sure what we’re paying for and I’d like the opportunity to look it over before we decide anything.”
Dianne Rambo with AirMedCare spoke to council members during the July 6 meeting.
The plan provides 125 census slots at a cost of $65 per slot or a total cost of $8,125 for a one-year contract with AirMedCare.
Under a census plan, the city provides a participation list and everyone on the participation list and their families receives benefits under the plan.
“What we’re basically offering is that anyone under the plan and anyone in their family who has to use helicopter service can do so at no cost to them as long as the service is provided through us,” Rambo said.
The AirMedCare network operates in 28 states and is operated locally through MedStar AirCare1, operating through MedTrans, with two helicopters serving Baldwin County, one at South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley and one at Atmore Community Hospital, which serves North Baldwin.
MedStar operates throughout Baldwin County, with the exception of Orange Beach, which operates its own service through the city, Rambo said.
Anyone listed on the agreement through the city would also have the opportunity to sign up for ground service at a cost of $55.
At the end of the year, the city would be able to renew its contract, Rambo said.
The council voted unanimously to table the measure. Council member Ruthie Campbell was not present for the meeting.
Also on July 6, the council:
