Resident Questions County Over Minutes, ARPA Awards

A Crawford County resident on Tuesday questioned officials for not having minutes available online and the commission’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) awards.

Cynthia Redburn wanted the minutes and agendas from all meetings posted online and questioned why the county wasn’t doing that.

Clerk John Martin said the website that is currently online — www.crawfordcountymo.org — is unusable and the person who had access hasn’t worked for them 

Martin said they are hoping to get a new website online soon and that he would make the minutes available when they are ready.

ARPA

Redburn questioned if the commissioners actually read through the grants that they have issued, such as the ARPA awards.

The county has so far received $2.3 million that is appropriated for several different taxing entities, in addition to Practical POCUS.

The Meramec Regional Planning Commission administered the awards and made recommendations.

Commissioners awarded the money over the first part of 2022.

“How thorough are you looking at these grants?” Redburn asked.

“Very thorough,” said Presiding Commissioner Leo Sanders.

While admitting that grants are important, Redburn baselessly claimed that some are linked to Agenda 21, a non-binding plan to promote sustainable development. 

Commissioners said they are careful about looking over the grants.

Redburn questioned District 2 Commissioner Jared Boast over comments he made about Practical POCUS and ARPA awards.

She took out of context a quote Boast made in April that without Practical POCUS, the county would not have applied for ARPA awards.

Redburn called it “disturbing” and a “conflict of interest.”

Boast said there was a misinterpretation of the quote and explained to Redburn why he credited Practical POCUS.

“When APRA came around, we waited and waited for the final rule,” he said. “Practical POCUS came to us and asked what we were going to do with ARPA money.”

Boast said that since the money couldn’t be applied for anything to the county, they weren’t going to accept it.

“Practical POCUS said, ‘we think you should open this for the grant process,” Boast said. 

He said commissioners picked the projects that would impact the county the most. 

Redburn also questioned why the county would accept federal money.

“If we don’t accept it, the money will be sent elsewhere,” Sanders said.