ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The city of Robertsdale is hoping to receive additional federal funds to help the continued local recovery effort from the COVID-19 pandemic.
At its regular meeting June 21, the council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution requesting federal fund distributed from the American Rescue Plan Act through the Alabama Department of Finance.
In May the U.S. Department of Treasury announced the launch of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds, established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, to provide $350 billion in emergency funding for eligible state, local, territorial and Tribal governments.
“State local, territorial and Tribal governments have been on the frontlines of responding to the immense public health and economic needs created by this crisis,” according to a release issued by the U.S. Department of Treasury. “As a result these governments have endured unprecedented strains, forcing many to make untenable choices between laying off educators, firefighters and other frontline workers or failing to provide other services that communities rely on.”
According to the Resolution, the city of Robertsdale is classified as an indirect recipient and fuds requested will be distributed from the non-entitlement units, which have been allocated $19.5 billion to assist in Coronavirus state and local fiscal recovery applications.
According to the resolution, the city council authorized Mayor Charles Murphy to execute financial applications on behalf of the city in securing funds.
According to the release, the funds allocated will provide relief to:
Funds will provide flexibility for each jurisdiction to meet local needs, according to the release, including support for households, small businesses, impacted industries, essential workers and the communities hardest-hit by the crisis. Funds also deliver resources the recipients can invest in building, maintaining or upgrading their water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.
Local governments should expect to receive 50 percent of the funds in 2021 with the balance delivered 12 months later, according to the release.
In other business June 21, the council voted to donate $500 to the Robertsdale Youth Baseball League to help send the league’s 12 and under team to the state championship, which was scheduled to be held June 24-28 in Florence.
In addition to the 12 and under group, two additional teams, 8 and under and 10 and under, also advanced to state tournament play, according to a league spokesperson. The other two tournaments were set to be held locally. About $400 per team member was needed for the 11-member team.
Following the meeting, the city handed out longevity awards to city workers. Each worker received a commemorative coin and a gift selected by the employee. Awards were handed out for 5-year, 10-year, 15-year, and 20-year employees.
City workers receiving awards in 2021 included:
5-year: Austin Wallace, Tres Givens and Fred Stringer.
10-year: Seth Thomley.
15-year: Heath Brill, Tony Kollins, Justen Tuberville, Susan Mitchell, and Jacob Powell.
20-year: Mike Smith, Thomas Kiel, Neal Dickinson and Michelle Stewart.
