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Commissioners distributing $1.5 million

Julye Keeble 
Staff Writer

Uvalde County
Judge Bill Mitchell (center) along with Uvalde County representatives treasurer Joni Deorsam (right), and (back row) Commissioner Ronald Garza (second from right) and Commissioner Mariano Pargas Jr. (right) present a $115,822 check to members of the Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department, including (front row, left to right) Jimmy Joe Howard, Mario Rangel, Patrick Williams, (back) Todd Dorris, Heath Sutherland, Justin Schmidt and Mac McLaughlin. The money is part of coronavirus relief funds being distributed by the county, and the presentation was made Thursday afternoon.

Uvalde County employees as well as some local non-profits will soon have several thousand dollars more after county commissioners agreed last Monday to distribute over $1.5 million in coronavirus relief funds.

The distribution includes $945,000 to local service organizations, including fire departments, EMS, and libraries, and about $600,000 in recognition pay to eligible county employees.

Alice Chapman, county auditor, said the money being given in appreciation of employee service, includes a gross of $3,000 to full-time and $1,500 to part-time employees who were with the county during specified dates from last year up to the distribution date.

County treasurer Joni Deorsam said full-time county employees who qualify will receive the pay in checks to be cut on March 15.

“The commissioners have all expressed interest in wanting to recognize the work performed by all staff within the county as we have moved through this difficult time,” Chapman said. She stated that elected officials, and appointed officials such as herself, are not eligible for the payments.

This is the first round of funding from more than $5 million allocated to the county after U.S. President Joe Biden signed the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Act into law in March of 2021.

In June of 2021, Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell said $2,597,063 of the funding was in the county’s bank account, with the second half expected this year. Mitchell noted at the time that the federal money came with some restrictions on how it might be used.

“We’re currently receiving the criteria, and we are reviewing the criteria, set out by the federal government to determine how to recommend the use of the funds,” Mitchell said at that time.

County grant writer Carl Esser said recently enacted rules for distribution and use of these Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds now allow the money to be used to cover revenue loss, up to a $10 million cap, not to exceed the amount awarded to governments and municipalities.

Chapman said a committee comprised of herself, Esser, Deorsam and Mitchell had been working on ways to allocate the money, and future distributions are being planned.

“This committee did meet, and we came up with this recommendation on this first round. Understand, this is not all of the relief money, this is just our first recommendation, there are still going to be some things we come back to, in later days. But right now, we’d like to make a recommendation we might approve today so we can statrt dispersing these funds throughout the community,” Mitchell said, adding there were 22 organizations on the first list.

Pete Luna|Leader-News
Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell (right) stands with Commissioner Ronald Garza and his wife, Angie Garza (center) present a $14,182 check to Uvalde Food Pantry representatives (left to right) Ann Dunlap, Walter Dunlap, James Hildebrand, Raul Martinez, and Tru Hiatt. The money is part of $945,000 from Uvalde County coronavirus relief funds which is being distributed to 22 area agencies with existing interlocal agreements with the county. The photo was taken Thursday morning.

Uvalde County
As part of the American Rescue Plan Act, the Uvalde County Commissioners’ Court awarded Uvalde EMS $182,006.25. Taking part in the presentation was (left to right) Uvalde EMS director Stevens Stevens, Commissioner Ronnie Garza, Uvalde County Judge Bill Mitchell, County Treasurer and EMS chairman Joni Deorsam and Commissioner Mariano Pargas Jr.

Commissioners declared a revenue loss and local state of disaster due to the ongoing pandemic, and were able to award a lump sum amount of $945,487 to numerous service entities who had budgeted interlocal agreements in place with the county.

Mitchell stated entities receiving the funds will be asked to execute an agreement acknowledging pandemic losses, and asking respective entities to spend the funds, as per governmental rules, to offset losses, and not commingle the money with their general funds.

El Progreso Memorial Library is set to receive $66,184.09, and the Sabinal and Utopia libraries are to receive $14,182.31 each.

Uvalde EMS will receive $182,006.25; both Utopia and Sabinal EMS are set to receive $66,184.09; and Nueces Canyon EMS, $16,546.02.

Local fire departments are budgeted, with Uvalde Volunteer Fire Department set to receive $115,822.16; Utopia and Sabinal fire, $69,493.29 each; Knippa, $33,092.05; Nueces Canyon and Concan departments, $16,546.02 each; and Reagan Wells Fire Department, $9,927.61.

The Humane Society of Uvalde will receive $9,454.57; and the Uvalde County Child Welfare Board, CASA, St. Henry De Osso Family Project, Herby Ham Activity Center, Southwest Family Life Center, and the Uvalde Food Pantry will get $14,182.31 each.

The county-run nutrition center is set to receive $94,548.70.

Commissioners approved the distribution unanimously at their meeting, which began at 10 a.m. at the Uvalde County Courthouse.