These are from City Meeting Minutes – please check the City of RH Website for additional details and updates.

1/23/23 Contract awarded to Angiel Electrical Construction Corporation in the amount of $1.4M for the installation of auxillary power and generators for 5 of the city’s wells (as required by Texas Legislation following “Snowmaggen”). Of the remaining funds ($1.9M), $97k will be used to provide hazard pay to First Responders and $172K will be used to provide WIFI in our underserved areas.

9/3/21 Notes from Presentation from City Manager during Council Meeting

Candice Edmondson gave a presentation on the Richland Hills American Rescue Plan Funding. On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law. The $1.9 trillion package is intended to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, including the public health and economic impacts. The Act provides $362 Billion in state, local and fiscal recovery funds with $19.53 Billion allocated to non-entitlement units of local government (NEUs) which generally have populations below 50,000. As required in the Act, the Treasury will allocate fiscal recovery funds for NEUs to the States, which are then required to distribute the funds to NEUs based on population within 30 days of receipt. The funds will be distributed in two tranches of payments roughly one year apart.

Richland Hills is set to receive $1,970,642 in fiscal recovery funds. The City received its first payment in the amount of $985,321 on August 23rd. Per the requirements of the Act, NEUs may use the funds for the following eligible purposes:

•          To respond to the public health emergency with respect to COVID-19 or its negative economic impacts, including assistance to households, small businesses, and nonprofits, or aid to impacted industries such as tourism, travel, and hospitality;

•          To respond to workers performing essential work during the COVID-19 public health emergency by providing premium pay to eligible workers of the State, territory, or tribal government that are performing such essential work, or by providing grants to eligible employers that have eligible workers who perform essential work;

•          For the provision of government services to the extent of the reduction of revenue of such State, territory, or Tribal government due to the COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year of the State, territory, or tribal government prior to the emergency; or

•          To make necessary investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

1/10/22 Notes from Update by City Manager on ARPA during Council Meeting

City Manager Candice Edmondson presented an update regarding the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and advised that Richland Hills received the first payment of $1,970,642 in recovery funds in August 2021, with the second payment scheduled to be received on August 23, 2022. The second payment will be received one year after the receipt of the first payment. She advised of proposed uses, including investments to improve and strengthen the City’s water infrastructure, investments to expand broadband to City parks and facilities for public use, and premium pay to critical infrastructure and essential employees. Director of Neighborhood Services Scott Mitchell, Police Chief Kim Sylvester, and Finance Director Patricia Albrecht provided additional information related to the proposed funding uses. A resolution authorizing expenditure of the City’s ARPA funds will be presented for City Council consideration at the January 24, 2022 City Council meeting.