County Gives Out More Big Grants
County Fair and RT Rifle Assoc. Getting 6-Figure Rescue Plan Funds
Fayette County Commissioners Court approved $676,000 in requests for local organizations for American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding at their meeting last Thursday, Jan. 26.
The Round Top Rifle Association will get $110,000 for improvements to their outdoor cooking area. The Court awarded $191,000 to the Fayette County Fair Association for an expansion and improvements to the Emily Fritsch Barn. The Fair Association also received $375,000 to replace the German-Czech Mart with a new food court at the Fairgrounds.
Commissioners unanimously approved both requests.
“They’re raising funds for renovations and they have a shortfall of $110,000,” said Angela Hahn, grant specialist for the County.
“The total project amount is estimated to be $225,000,” said Ronnie Sacks of the Round Top Rifle Association. “Our outdoor cooking facilities are antiquated. It was built in the 1940s and 50s. Our barbecue pits, outdoor coolers, etc., are in need of replacement.”
Sacks said the Round Top Rifle Hall plays a big role in the community by hosting fundraisers for school and civic organizations in the area.
Lee Fritsch of the Fair Association said the request for $191,000 would pay for a 30foot expansion to two sides of the Emily Fritsch Barn, along with permanent pens inside the barn that would replace the temporary pens erected during events such as the Fair’s Junior Commercial Heifer Show.
“The Fayette County Fair Junior Commercial Show has generated about $3.5 million for the kids of Fayette County over the last 12 years,” Fritsch said. “(The barn) will also be used for the Fayette County Junior Livestock Show and Sale, and the Junior Livestock Show has generated almost $4 million for the County kids over the last 12 years.”
Fritsch said the project would improve safety in the barn. In addition, he said the upgraded facility could attract new events to the fairgrounds. It would provide more space for the annual MS 150 bike ride. Moreover, he said installing permanent pens could allow the facility to be used as a livestock evacuation site during emergencies.
Scott Willey of the Fair Association said the $375,000 request would cover the cost of replacing the German-Czech Mart with a new food court area. Willey said the project would greatly benefit the local nonprofits who sell concessions at the Fair every year, including the La Grange Optimist Club, La Grange Rotary Club and the Fayetteville Show Fund.
“Will there still be a German- Czech Mart?” asked County Judge Dan Mueller.
“Yes, we’ll probably rename it to ‘Food Court’ just to make it easier, but that’s not 100 percent finalized,” Willey said.
“Y’all want to take a vote on that? I vote you keep it the German-Czech Mart,” Muellet said, which got a laugh from the audience.
The Fair Association also requested funds for bathroom upgrades ($450,000) and improvements to the Marge Rosenberg Stage ($155,000).
“We’re not asking for full funding for all of these projects, we’re not asking the County to pay 100 percent of them,” Willey said.
Commissioners opted to fund the Emily Fritsch Barn and food court.
During the meeting, Plum resident William Bernsen questioned whether the County should give ARP funds to private organizations.
“I’m a little concerned about the trend I’ve noticed with government funds going to private organizations,” Bernsen said. “I support every one of these organizations that I’ve seen come here and ask for funds. It seems to me we’re setting a precedent here. Those funds, you have two years to spend them, they can be used to directly offset our tax dollars.”
Bernsen asked if the County had a policy about spending tax dollars for private organizations.
“I think that’s something we ought to discuss,” Bernsen said. “Government partnering with private organizations - the definition of that is fascism. The more the government funds private organizations, the more the government tends to control private organizations.
“It is our tax dollars,” Bernsen said. “It comes from Washington. Granted, it’s probably printed money. The bottom line is it could be used for firefighters, EMS stations, and to offset other County expenses.”
Bernsen said he supported the Court’s recent decision to award ARP funds to the Gardenia E. Janssen Animal Shelter since they provide a “quasigovernmental” public service.
Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom said some of the ARP funds are intended to promote tourism.
“The economy took a big hit from COVID, and this was a boost from the federal government to stimulate the economy, which is what tourism does,” McBroom said.
The County has already paid out more than $2.5 million in ARP funds, mostly for County-related projects such as new EMS stations in Schulenburg and Round Top, and a new computer aided dispatch system for the County's 911 service. One notable exceptions were $500,000 to St. Mark’s Medical Center.
In addition, the County has earmarked a little over $1.5 million in ARP funds for other projects. That number includes $70,000 for Fayetteville Community Theater and $350,000 for the Animal Shelter, along with funds for two new ambulances for Fayette County EMS, new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office, and improvements at the County’s Adult Probation Office.
McBroom provided the Record with a rough estimate of the County’s remaining ARP funds that have not been spent or allocated: a little over $83,000. McBroom said some of the allocations, such as the improvements to the Probation Office, are still in the planning stages, so that number could change.
Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly stated that the County awarded ARP funds for the Fayette County Appraisal District. Those funds instead were used to purchase a Computer Aided Dispatch system for the County’s 911 service. It has been corrected above.