ARPA: Survey respondents wanted more say, but agree with how money was spent

ASHLAND — An Ashland Source survey showed people felt left out of decisions surrounding the use of American Rescue Plan Act funds, citing low awareness and limited input opportunities. 

If those 211 respondents had been given the chance to offer input, most would have encouraged leaders to focus on infrastructure projects.

That’s exactly how the lion’s share of $46.6 million in ARPA money was spent across the county, whether it was done by township, village, county, city or a public school district, according to public records.

If an entity didn’t spend the money on infrastructure, it was likely spent on equipment.

For example, Hanover Township officials spent the entire $89,000 ARPA allocation on a down payment for a John Deere tractor and accessories.

Milton Township officials spent some of the money on infrastructure projects, such as repairing a box culvert and a septic holding tank. Most of the township’s money, however, went to toward the purchase of a new tractor.

Hayesville’s ARPA money went toward infrastructure projects around the village, but much of it went toward equipment geared toward locating water leaks.

Some residents said they would have liked the money to be spent on improving services like public safety and mental health. Many of them also voiced support for shoring up existing services for seniors, youth and entrepreneurs. 

Solving the homelessness issue and affordable housing conundrum also seem to be priorities on residents’ minds.

The survey results indicate limited perceived involvement in decision-making, despite a relatively higher level of awareness of ARPA. 

In other words, people reported at least surface-level knowledge of ARPA. But those same people reported feeling voiceless when it came to influencing how that money was spent. 

This anonymous quote from the survey sums it up nicely: “I probably could have had more impact, but the decisions were made before I found out. However, I did not disagree with any of the decisions I heard about.”

Here are some others that reflect a population that reports feeling voiceless.

I have received zero information about this. Why wasn’t a portion of the money used to reach out to every resident with information and survey forms with free return postage?

Some people desire more opportunities beyond monthly meetings to express ideas publicly. 

An Ashland Source poll sought readers’ opinion on whether the city of Ashland should host a public forum that allows residents to have a say on how the remaining ARPA money should be spent by Dec. 31.

The majority (74.6%) of those who responded said “yes.”

Ashland officials did not host a public forum. Instead, council voted on how the rest of the city’s money would be spent during a regularly scheduled Dec. 3 meeting. (Notably, the Dec. 3 meeting was the first time an ARPA expenditure came up for a council vote.)

'I know that sidewalks need replaced'

When elected officials learned their constituents felt voiceless, they responded by reminding them all meetings are open to the public.

"The door's open," said Mitchell Bolin, a Milton Township trustee.

Ashland Mayor Matt Miller disagreed with the notion that the city's residents are voiceless. He argues the opposite: they are heard.

"We're not in a situation where our elected officials are so far removed, in a faraway place, from the very people they are to represent," Miller said during an Ashland Source event to discuss ARPA spending.

He said council members and himself often attend civic meetings in which the city's needs, wants and problems are discussed.

"I know that sidewalks need replaced, Lee Peters," Miller said, addressing a resident in the audience that night who has complained about the condition of the city's sidewalks. "I know that we have affordable-housing issues.

"But you know what? In this case we have $2.1 million that we need to decide how to spend and we want to get the biggest bang for our buck, make an impact that will last the longest amount of time and serve the most people in our community," he said.

If the city had received $30 million, he offered, the city "might have taken a different approach" and put more "time and effort into trying to see where we should spend the money."

But even then, Miller said, updating infrastructure would be one of his priorities because it "serves everyone's needs in the city regardless of your income, regardless of your age and regardless of where you live — north, south, east or west."

'Did not bother'

Another large segment of survey respondents acknowledged they did not participate in the process, whether that was by willful negligence or lack of awareness.

Did not bother to speak up.

The above responses offer a glimpse into an frustration elected officials often express: the lack of public participation.

"We didn't have a large contingency of folks who would come to board meetings," said Ashland City Schools Superintendent Steve Paramore of meetings during the pandemic.

He noted all district expenditures, ARPA or otherwise, were attached in board agenda packets, which are available publicly.

The only time people seemed to be interested enough in school board meetings, he said, was when the board discussed the use of masks in school buildings.

"That doesn't have anything to do with money (and how it was spent)," Paramore said.

Do you want to be more involved? Below is a list of the county's governmental entities' meeting dates and times.