County Plays Santa With Some Big Holiday Grants

Fayette County Commissioners Court awarded grant funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) to four local organizations last Thursday.

“It feels like Christmas,” said County Judge Joe Weber.

The County had about $2.4 million remaining in funds from the ARP, the federal stimulus program launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fayette County has used the money for several projects including a new ambulance and a new station in Schulenburg for Fayette County EMS. Commissioners have discussed but not yet approved using some of the grant money for other projects, such as upgrades to the adult probation office.

When the funds started to arrive last year, Weber and the Commissioners agreed to a policy of prioritizing the money for projects related to health, safety and security in the County.

The County may also distribute ARP funds to nongovernmental groups for certain eligible projects, including those related to tourism and economic development. Two nongovernmental groups have applied for funds, the Fayetteville Community Center Group and Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter.

The Fayetteville Community Center Group is working toward remodeling the old E.J. Knesek Building into a community center and performing arts venue. Fayetteville Community Center President Jerry Herring said his group recently discovered major foundation problems with the building.

“Our most immediate need is the foundation,” Herring said.

He said foundation repair costs are estimated to cost $139,000.

“We are now faced with leveling the building,” said Herring. “For some reason, one part of the building decided to drop 17 inches.

“We still believe in this project enormously,” Herring said. “We think its going to be a huge asset for Fayette County. We’re looking for all the help we can get.”

Herring said the project has raised $2.7 million so far.

“Any help we could get, we’d appreciate,” he said.

Angela Hahn, the County’s grant specialist, recommended an award of $77,000. She said the project promotes tourism and this qualifies for ARP funds.

Weber made a motion to award that amount and it passed unanimously.

Next up on the agenda was the Gardenia Janssen Animal Shelter. Hahn recommended the County award $100,000 to $200,000 of ARP funds to the shelter.

“We look at this as a de facto County shelter,” Hahn said. “If you don’t have a shelter, you’ve got a stray animal problem, and that is a public safety issue.”

Under state law, the County is responsible for handling stray animals that pose a public safety threat.

Shelter Director Teresa Stanley-Brown said the Shelter takes in approximately 1,500 stray dogs and cats every year. The Shelter is planning for some major renovations, she said. The Shelter has undertaken efforts to reduce the number of animals it euthanizes in recent years. That has resulted in longer length of stays for the animals in its care and more animals in the Shelter at any given time. The Shelter needs additional space to accommodate the increased numbers.

“I, personally, would like to see more than $200,000,” said Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom. “What most people don’t realize is that (the Shelter) takes a service that we would have to do in the County. They’re taking care of all this for the County. It takes a lot off of our shoulders.”

Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff praised the fundraising efforts by the Shelter, noting that they have raised more than $350,000 in private donations for the rennovations.

McBroom motioned to award the Shelter $350,000 and it passed unanimously.

Commissioners also authorized the County Auditor to seek bids for several vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office that will be paid for with ARP funds. Deputy Mark Zimmerman said the Sheriff’s prisoner transport van has major rust problems with its roof. He estimated a new van would cost $49,000 plus the cost of a cage insert, which he estimated at $24,000 to $29,000.

Zimmerman said the Sheriff’s Office also needs a new animal control vehicle, which he estimated at $63,000.

In addition, Zimmerman said the County needs a new mental health transport vehicle.

“For mental health transports, they cannot be a marked unit,” he said. “They have to have certain equipment. You have to take particular care with transporting them. We make a lot of trips to Austin, Georgetown, San Antonio, and sometimes we have to go farther.”

He said the Sheriff’s current mental health transport vehicle has 150,000 miles and needs to be replaced. He proposed a Ford or Chevy SUV at a cost of $52,000.

McBroom made a motion to seek bids for the three vehicles and it passed unanimously.

Also at last Thursday’s meeting, Commissioners approved a request for $50,000 in ARP funds from the City of Ellinger and Ellinger Volunteer Fire Department to build a helipad in Ellinger. The pad will be used to land medical helicopters in Ellinger to transport critically injured or sick patients to hospitals.

Currently, Ellinger firefighters have to set up landing zones on Highway 71 or empty lots in town whenever someone needs emergency transport. The helipad provides a much safer option and doesn’t require firefighters on the ground help with the landings. Commissioners approved the request unanimously.