Wabash County officials are busy putting a plan together on how to spend over $2.2 million in American Rescue Plan monies coming from the federal government. At yesterday’s county board meeting, treasurer Beverly McBride reported the county has already received half of the money amounting to $1.18 million. She said the other half of the money will arrive next June. The majority of the initial money is being targeted to the Wabash County Health Department which county commissioner Tim Hocking said should be the first priority… 

But, Hocking said the county may be able to reallocate some of the money to reimburse the sheriff’s department for COVID-related expenses freeing up money for things Sheriff Derek Morgan requested.

Health Department administrator Judy Wissel said some of the money may be used to make the health department more accessible, reimburse for additional salaries incurred by COVID, and even an app to more the health department’s service more accessible to the public.

The county board yesterday approved giving the health department the authority to use more than $700,000 of the rescue money for various upgrades that could also include additional parking and building improvements. The county board will have to sign off on the projects the health department pursues.