Bethany Council Approves 4 Applications For ARPA Federal Funding

Bethany’s Board of Alderman approved four applications for American Rescue Plan funding that will come federal government during a meeting held on Monday evening.

The applications were presented from the Bethany Country Club for just over $27,000 of improvements that will include furnace repair and conversion to natural gas for their heaters. The Harrison County Sheltered Workshop was also approved for nearly $25,000 of miscellaneous indoor improvements. The Harrison County Genealogical Society will receive nearly $25,000 for HVAC work to improve their air circulation system. The Bethany VFW Post 2176 will also receive $10,300 for handicapped-accessibility upgrades to their restroom. The city of Bethany has applied for $250,000 for blowers or the Wastewater Plant.

Bethany City Administrator Jacob Taylor told council members that the city has a little over $219,000 that can still be spent coming from the ARP funding. He also announced plans to create a non-profit board that will be named at the next city council meeting. That board would have authority to approve applications for what will likely be about $100,000 in grants that could be provided to businesses through grants. That board will include representatives of the Bethany Chamber of Commerce, Harrison County Government, Bethany Historical Society, Harrison County Genealogical society, and the Bethany Community Development organization.

The Parks Department would also receive funding for work on their trails projects and tennis court upgrades.

The city also noted a glitch in their billing system which identified the wrong delinquency due date for the last utility billing. The delinquency date of February 1st on the billing should have noted a date of February 15th. The billing was also the first that included the 10 percent increase in the gas rate as approved in the city’s budget.