American Rescue Plan Act funding was back on the table again during Thursday morning’s special-call Columbus City Council meeting, this time as a possible source for roof repairs at city-owned facilities.
The discussion started after Ward 5 Councilman Stephen Jones asked about the availability of funds to reroof the police department at the Municipal Complex and the crime lab, which is located in the adjacent strip mall.
Estimates for that work are about $1 million.
Crime Lab Director Claudette Gilman told the council the roof situation at the lab is dire.
“(The leak) started in one office, and now we have a 20-foot-by-30-foot tarp covering the walls and the floor,” Gilman said. “I came in one morning and a ceiling tile in the supply closet had been soaked. There are electrical outlets up there, which is a worry.”
Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Stewart suggested dipping into the $3 million in federal ARPA funds the city has earmarked for watershed and drainage work. It has been approved for $3 million in state matching funds, but the matching funds will be lost if the money is spent for anything else.
“Every month we have (Code Enforcement Officer Sasha James) come before us with dilapidated property,” Stewart said. “Maybe we should take a look at our dilapidated property.”
Stewart rattled off a laundry list of buildings, ranging from the crime lab to fire stations to buildings at Propst Park, that had roofing issues, observing that “… everything we’ve got, it’s raining in.”
Repairs to the Propst Park buildings are included in a $4.4 million parks improvement plan for which the council has already approved funding – including $3 million in bonded debt.
“We’ve got people’s houses flooding,” Mayor Keith Gaskin retorted, advocating the council stick to using ARPA for watershed projects. “We’ve got neighborhoods that have been flooding for years. This money can fix that. You’ll be throwing away a match of $3 million to fix a roof.”
Jones asked Gaskin to moderate his tone, telling him he didn’t have to be “testy.”
“I feel strongly that money should be used for neighborhoods that really need it,” Gaskin said. “I’m not getting testy for myself. … Just drop it.”
“I don’t have to drop anything. I’m a grown man,” Jones responded. “If I want to speak, I’m going to speak.”
Chief Financial Officer James Brigham questioned whether the city was well-served by continuing to pour money into old buildings.
“I think the question is are those buildings worth putting $1 million into,” Brigham said. “(Chief Operations Officer Jammie Garrett) and I have looked at a couple of buildings here in the city that could replace (the Municipal Complex and the strip mall). … Do you like those existing buildings, or do you want to invest in something new?”
Brigham suggested setting up a capital projects committee to explore alternatives.
“I think the thing to do is bring together people who understand and know Columbus and form a committee to take a look at the needs we have,” Brigham said. “The library is our building, too, and it has needs.”
Gaskin suggested having another meeting to talk about the crime lab.
“It’s not that we don’t care. We do,” Gaskin said. “… We’re also working to find a place to put (the crime lab’s equipment), so it won’t face that flooding.”
Stewart has previously suggested using the ARPA money for other projects. Last month she pitched using it to buy trucks to replace the city’s aging fleet.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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