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KINSMAN -- With approval from the Trumbull County commissioners for American Rescue Plan funds, Kinsman will be able to get three projects completed.
Trustee Greg Leonhard said at this week's trustees meeting that one of the three ARP-funded grants for Kinsman will be used for a walkway in the greenspace area to connect Main Street to the sidewalks on State Street at $159,469.
Also approved was $30,338 for backup generators for the township administration building and the American Legion hall. Like the fire hall, those two buildings can be used as emergency warming / cooling stations for the public during a power outage, officials said.
Leonhard said the fire department already has a backup generator.
The third amount is $4,165 for repairing and replacing playground equipment at the park, which has become unsafe.
Leonhard said there also might be $100,000 available to help with a police garage but that project was ranked fourth.
"From my understanding any money left over will be allocated in 2024," he said. "We now may be able to get some of it."
He said the trustees were told by county officials the funds were not there for the police garage since it did not fall under the requirements for ARP funds. The township has been looking at renovating the fire department hall building on State Road, possibly to store police vehicles.
Trustees have been in talks with the fire association, which owns the fire building.
Trustee Jamin Banning said even if the township gets $100,000 in ARP money it is not enough for the police garage building
"I think we should do the other three projects. We can have improvements made in the center of town," he said, noting the fire hall may be the best way to have a place for the police vehicles.
Bob Nemeth, chairman of the park committee, said $150,000 was raised through fundraising and grant funding to get the park restrooms updated at no cost to the township.
Nemeth said the committee wants to have the greenspace area by the Kinsman Library and at the site of the former Joseph Badger School utilized. Leonhard said the greenspace project has been discussed for many years but there has never been enough funds for it.
REFLECTIVE SIGNS
In other business, Leonhard said ARP funds also are being used for purchasing reflective house number signs for residents.
He said more than 100 township residents, many senior citizens, have requested the reflective signs. Officials contacted the local senior center to see who was in need of signs and did an online survey that received 93 responses.
Trustees received prices from four companies and have approved Interstate 911 for purchasing 150 reflective signs at $9.50 each.
Leonhard said the signs are vertical with house numbers on them.