NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission decided Tuesday to use iParametrics to consult with them on the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) federal grant from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), but to keep their costs within the budgeted amount of $137,000, instead of iParametrics estimate of $300,000.
"I would hope we would not exceed the number we budgeted," said commissioner Daniel Friesen. "I felt like that was too much already. I think we had a debate on it and that's where we settled. I'm not going to argue that number again."
County Administrator Randy Partington said he could work with that.
"I'm hoping it's even less than that amount," Partington said. "That's for audit and consultant work. I'll work with Leslie and Patrick and the company to make sure that we spend as little as needed, but only use the necessary services, to keep it under that amount."
Commissioner Ron Sellers said he'd like to see the money spent as quickly as possible.
"To me, with inflation, a dollar spent today has more value than a dollar spent a year and a half from now," Sellers said. "Can we get moving on this thing?"
Partington told the board that the housing groups could do some of the background work while the compliance paperwork is being dealt with, but that the childcare side may take longer, just because they are still waiting on the survey from K-State to be processed before they make decisions.