FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners face some big decisions on who will get part of the county’s nearly $545,000 remaining in American Rescue Plan Act funds.

The county received $5.86 million from the federal program and has obligated or spent most of the funds on county or community projects.

Sixteen applications totaling nearly $2 million in requests have recently been received for the remaining $544,722.

Commissioners had stopped funding requests for ARPA funds, waiting to learn how much they would receive for the $4.4 million emergency operations center being built on County Way. They learned earlier this year that the county would receive about $2 million from Congress to pay for the project, in addition to $1.67 million from ARPA funds and $700,000 from the county’s unorganized TIF program .

Representatives for each funding request gave commissioners brief presentations on Thursday, following along with a copy of each request that Susan Pratt, county program administrator, provided.

Several generators are needed, including one for the New Sharon Water District for emergency power and support equipment at a cost of $55,000; one generator for the Rangeley Water District to run the system at $66,000; the Wilton Lions Club at $65,000 to help it become a warming center; Franklin County Emergency Management Agency at $8,000 for a mobile generator that could help the county and others when power goes out.

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It appears that last year’s devastating rain and flooding took its toll on operations around the county and the state.

There are also requests for nearly $91,858 to replace dispatch consoles at the Franklin County Regional Communications Center; $67,350 for cloud migration for data from the Franklin County Technology Department; $181,332.38 for window sills and windows; and $17,000 for ceiling fans from the Franklin County Facilities Department.

In addition, there are requests of $50,000 from the Sargent Family Community Fund in Rangeley for health and safety property repairs; $125,000 for SeniorsPlus Meals on Wheels program; $50,000 from the Beth Brunswick Memorial Fund for Children for a Rangeley Child Care Center; $50,000 for the Madrid Historical Society for a community facility; $50,000 for the Kenduskeag Lodge for community center renovations; and $39,794 for a Rangeley radio station upgrade.

There are also requests of $150,000 from the Center for Entrepreneurial Studies for staff to manage core operations, and $50,000 for the Rangeley Lakes Snowmobile Club for a safety kiosk at a trailhead.

Commission Chairman Lance Harvell of Farmington said commissioners will need to decide where the money should go. Commissioners will take up the requests at their next meeting at 3:30 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the county courthouse.

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