$585,812 in federal funding coming to Albion village in American Rescue Plan

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 July 2021 at 8:05 am

Village Board asks department heads to consider ways to best use the money

ALBION – The Village of Albion will be getting $585,812 in federal funding through the American Rescue Plan.

The Village Board now has to determine how to best use the funding that needs to meet federal criteria for health and wellness, some reimbursements for added village costs due to Covid-19, infrastructure including water and sewer, as well as possible broadband internet upgrades.

Mayor Eileen Banker asked the village department heads to consider projects for the funding and then the board and the department heads will have a roundtable discussion. Albion has already received the first half of the money and has until 2024 to complete the projects and be eligible for the full amount of funding.

The Village Board on Tuesday also:

• Approved filling two part-time police officer positions with one to be paid $18 an hour and the other $22 an hour.

• Renewed a five-year contract with Albion sewer personnel to provide wastewater management services for the Village of Elba with 3 percent annual increases.

• Jay Pahura, DPW superintendent, said the village will put new blacktop down on seven streets this summer, up from three in most years. Albion also is putting in eight new manhole covers.

When the projects are done, Pahura said the DPW will look to put in the new walking trail at Bullard Park. That trail needs to be done by December to meet the timeframe for a state grant for the Bullard Park improvements. The walking trail is part of a local community match for the grant, which helped fund the new splash pad, amphitheater and bathrooms/utility building.

• The village owns the 121 North Main St. building, the former Citizens National Bank. The board was notified it will soon have a vacancy there with Crossroads Abstract not renewing its lease.

Mayor Eileen Banker said there will be two open spots in the building. The other vacant space was used by Bernie Baldwin, an insurance agent, who retired in 2018.

• Agreed to allow its insurance to be used for a movie in the park event at Bullard, which will be the first Fridays each month and will include a food truck. The village will co-sponsor the events with the Albion Summer Music Festival group formerly known as Rock the Park. That group will provide the screen and projector with the movies shown at the amphitheater.