TEXARKANA, Ark. - For the first time since the February flood, the Miller County Courthouse is now asbestos free and ready for the interior rehabilitation to start - if the financing can be figured out.
Last week, Miller County Quorum Court members agreed to create a special revenue fund to hold what will ultimately be more than $8.3 million in American Rescue Plan Funds from the U.S. Treasury Department.
However, even though these funds could potentially be use help cover a forecasted $7 million to $10 million rehabilitation price tag, county officials are still trying to zero in on the Treasury Department's financial use guidelines.
Late last week, Miller County Judge's Office Administrative Assistant Carla Jenkins said the county's next moved is to consult with both it's historical preservation architect and it's insurance company to find out exactly what type of rehab the insurance money will cover and what it won't.
Even though the Treasury Department did release guidelines stipulating what the American Rescue Plan Act funds could be spent on, Jenkins said county officials are seeking more clarification regarding those guidelines.
Besides possibly helping repair the courthouse's recent flood damage caused by February's winter storm, the justices of the peace and other county officials are looking at the grant money's potential use for removing and replacing the courthouse's outdated boiler, along with radiators, individual window air conditioning units and other obsolete climate control devices, as recommended by the Little Rock-based McKinstry Energy Efficiency consulting firm.
County officials could know later this week on how to apply the funds, once guidelines research is finished.