The Board of Commissioners (BOC) unanimously passed a resolution Thursday night (6.25.20) approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Shelby County to receive $407,000 In CARES Act money. It is part of $49,921,022 in Coronavirus Relief Funds through the County’s direct application to the Treasury Department. Vice Mayor Josh Roman did not attend the special session.
The County opted to distribute $6,056,000 of those funds among the six municipalities in Shelby County, based on each town’s population. It is to be a one-time payment according to the tables, below.
Link to agenda https://www.lakelandtn.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/934
Link to Livestream: https://livestream.com/lakeland/events/9190814
The agreement begins upon execution by all parties and ends Dec. 30th, the final date the funds can be utilized. Any funds not spent by a municipality by Sept. 1st must be dispersed back to the County Sept. 2nd. Or the municipality can submit to the County in writing regarding an anticipated and permissible use of the funds to occur before Dec. 30th.
Under the CARES Act, some local governments qualified by their population for direct payments from the federal government instead of receiving funds through their states. Shelby County applied and received a direct federal payment based on its population. Included in that population is each municipality with the exception of Memphis. The County opted to share the relief funding via an interlocal agreement.
In Lakeland, COVID-related expenses are being evaluated for these funds. “We are evaluating all expenses related to COVID that would qualify,” said Shane Horn, Lakeland city manager. “The food bank contributions would be an example.” The City donated almost $14,000 to partner with St. Paul United Methodist Church and the Lakeland School System to help Lakeland families in need during the pandemic. There were food distribution events, one each in April and June.
“We have also been tracking legal expenses related to COVID separately from our regular billing to qualify for potential reimbursement. We will be bringing a potential project forward to the Board of Commissioners at their July meeting to utilize a portion of these funds for updates to the city chambers to provide audio and visual updates.”
Mr. Horn said Shelby County would provide a single payment of $407,000 to the City of Lakeland upon execution of the Interlocal Agreement. The City would have until September 1, 2020 to utilize the funds or submit potential anticipated projects that this funding will be used for before December 30, 2020.
During the meeting, Commissioner Michele Dial asked if COVID expenses related to Lakeland schools could be considered. Will Patterson, city attorney, said those would be allowable expenses.
