Supervisors review CARES Act distribution, future plans at Tuesday’s meeting

During an hour-and-thirty-five minute Tuesday morning meeting the Warren County Board of Supervisors got a dizzyingly detailed report on both its and the Town of Front Royal’s Phase 1 disbursement, reimbursement; and ongoing plans for implementation of Phase 2 of CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Securities Act) funding through the end of the year.

On the County side, numbers included in the report by County Deputy Emergency Services Coordinator Rick Farrall were:

• $4,530,192 – the County’s “equitable share” of two rounds of CARES Act funding from the federal/state distributed total of about $7 million;
• $2,065,096 allocated, $875,000 awarded in Round 1 County Small Business/Non-Profits grants, with a remaining cash balance of $1,190,096;
• $413,020 – allocated, $8,865 awarded in Round 1 County Individual Utility Assistance grants, with a remaining cash balance of $404,155;
• $400,000 – off the top to a combination of things, including CARES process administrative efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, a CRF Audit, and Warren County Public Schools distance learning devices;
• $1,652,076 – off the top to support County Public Safety Payroll through pandemic-impacted service.

Rick Farrall updates supervisors on the CARES Act administrative and distribution processes. Royal Examiner Photos by Roger Bianchini – Royal Examiner Video by Mark Williams

Farrall also reported that following a September 29^th meeting of the Warren County CARES Act Committee and Interim County Administrator Ed Daley it was recommended that the Round 2 grant disbursement program be implemented on a “first come, first served basis, with a number of qualifying adjustments. On Wednesday, October 7, the County issue a press release on its Phase 2 application/distribution process with an application window from October 13 to October 26. That release has been posted on the Royal Examiner website.

On the Town side Farrall noted County-issued reimbursements of $942,500 in three checks, with a remaining balance of $334,058 owed. He explained the Town had initially intended to distribute that remaining balance to “other than small business” but due to County concerns on qualifying parameters, had agreed to redirect that money into small business assistance.

In the below-linked video, see Farrall’s full report on the complex but vital work to help small businesses, non-profits and individuals financially impacted by the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic response and State-ordered closings and restrictions designed to limit the Coronavirus disease’s impact on the state. As of October 6, Virginia was one of the state’s listed as “stable” in COVID-19 case and fatality updates in a nation now with over 7 million cases and 209,000 deaths attributed to the disease that has now impacted the White House staff and presidency despite its daily testing regimen.

In other business the board moved to authorize receipt by County Emergency Services Department of a $1,216,724.04 SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response) grant that will cover salary and benefits of six new full-time firefighter positions for a three-year period.

Laura Lee Cascada asks the board to move on removal of the Confederate soldier statue on courthouse lawn regardless of the November ballot non-binding referendum count. If majority rule was always followed, she reasoned, civil justice would remain delayed. Opponents of removal have countered that the statue is more a war service memorial, than a tribute to the cause of slavery.

Also heard at the meeting’s outset were one public comment on the Confederate Soldier statue situation; monthly reports on VDOT road maintenance and work; EDA business; and the public works department’s update on solid waste and recycling.

The board also unanimously approved an 11-item Consent Agenda without amendment, before approving a motion to adjourn to a five-item Closed Session at 10:35 a.m. following a 10-minute break. That closed session beginning at 10:45 a.m. adjourned at 1 p.m.