Supervisors allocate ARPA funds towards park projects, LEDC

By Jalen Maki

Tomahawk Leader Editor

LINCOLN COUNTY – American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds will be allocated towards several park projects and economic development within Lincoln County.

The Lincoln County Board of Supervisors, during its meeting at the Lincoln County Service Center in Merrill on Tuesday, July 16, gave the thumbs up to three resolutions distributing ARPA dollars.

The first resolution earmarks $4,000.00 for the Pickerel Lake District and $37,682.00 for the Town of Merrill. The Pickerel Lake District will use its funds to purchase an aeration system, while the Town of Merrill’s funding allocation will aid improvements to the Lokemoen Landing.

Under the second resolution approved by the board, a total of $112,000.00 in ARPA dollars will go towards projects that exceeded pervious allocations. The funds will be distributed among New Wood Park ($45,000.00), Otter Lake ($27,000.00), Prairie Dells ($20,000.00) and the Hiawatha Trail ($20,000.00).

Supervisors also gave the green light to the allocation of $45,000.00 annually to the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) for 2025 and 2026.

The resolution cited Wisconsin Counties Association sales tax projections that show Lincoln County is “one of four counties with a zero growth or a reduction in sales tax revenue for 2023” and said the county’s “overall budget remains fiscally vulnerable and needs additional time for changes to reflect stabilization before resuming funding Economic Development Corporation through operational funds.”

The resolution noted that LEDC was “funded with the purpose of focusing on revenue growth without increasing taxes” and pointed to recent record-breaking tourism numbers posted by Lincoln County.

The board previously voted to approve funding LEDC for 2023 and 2024.

A resolution that sought to allocate ARPA funding towards contracting with Placer AI and Discover Wisconsin, along with focusing on other marketing objectives, was tabled until next month’s meeting after Supervisors voiced concerns regarding tracking data and privacy.

Since Lincoln County received roughly $5.5 million in ARPA funds in 2021 as part of the federal government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the board has voted to dedicate ARPA dollars to a variety of areas, including county promotion and marketing; improving campgrounds, parks and county roads; and covering losses at Pine Crest Nursing Home in Merrill.

It was noted during the meeting that the county is required to allocate its remaining APRA funds by the end of the year. The county has roughly $1 million in ARPA funds remaining, according to data provided by Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Renee Krueger.