JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) – Jackson County elected officials are in disagreement on how to spend the remaining funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Several expressed concerns regarding communication between them and County Executive Frank White’s Office.
It was one of the main topics of discussion at Monday’s legislative meeting. White did not attend, but his chief of staff Caleb Clifford fielded questions from legislators.
“It is his intent to work with all the members of the legislature to hopefully come to a unanimous decision in regard to those funds and move forward with them as quickly as possible,” said Clifford.
Clifford also presented White’s proposals on how to use the funds, including the potential sale of a county-owned building at 13th and Washington. Legislator Manny Abarca pushed Clifford for direction on what he called “last-minute decisions” on the funds and clarification on potentially selling the building. He then shared a letter he and others received from the U.S. Department of Treasury providing clarification on where funds from the potential sale would go.
“It also in this letter says that we were required to submit our goals by the end of July, for which you all told us in the last weeks that there were no goals, there were no submission deadlines, however, Treasury specifically outlines that you are to give them something,” said Abarca. “What did you all give them?”
While Abarca says he received the letter on Friday, Clifford says White’s Office was unaware of it before it was presented in Monday’s meeting.
“Legislator Abarca I will be happy to look into this, but I believe we satisfied all the requirements and have fulfilled all the reporting requirements through our finance department,” said Clifford.
There were other concerns raised by legislators.
“Not receiving updates, not receiving any information until now, and we are to expeditiously, or the expectation, is that we should work quickly to get this done,” said Donna Peyton.
“From my standpoint I feel like I’m in Groundhog Day and not just with respect to ARPA funds, but to respect in general collaboration and strategy on the part of the administration of waiting until things are urgent and it’s a take it or leave it-type proposition,” said Sean Smith.
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Smith then recommended everyone come together sometime in the next seven days so everyone can be on the same page.
Toward the end of the conversation, things got heated.
“It is incredibly frustrating to sit here, to be lectured by someone who was not elected by anyone who plays county executive in this building and outside in the public cutting deals,” said Abarca.
Jackson County Legislative Chair Jeanie Lauer then requested Abarca “tone it down.”
Following the meeting, KCTV asked legislators about a potential meeting within the week.
“I think anything we can do to help get everybody on board would be great,” said Lauer. “Unfortunately, when you have a lot of money, there’s always disagreement on how it should be used. Everybody wants it for something else. This is really where the community decides what they want it for and then we make the decision based on the regulations so it’s not a matter of picking favorites.”
Lauer wants the community to know the county administration will be putting out more information soon.
“Absolutely, but the reality is I’ve had that meeting, I’ve had that discussion, and we have gone through that whole process,” said Abarca. “I don’t know what a different legislator is going to do to solve it. At this point, we need to vote. That’s what we need to do. We need to vote to prioritize community needs and be done with it.”
KCTV reached out to White’s office for additional comment. We have not heard back at this time.
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