In their June special meeting, City Administrator Hanna Thomas mentioned during discussion the City was figuring out how to use their $875,000 in Federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, which they will receive in the near future.
Thomas, who is on the CARES Act committee for Cole County, mentioned the county has gotten funds already, so the remainder of the funds will be distributed to cities - and Holts Summit has to figure out how they'll spend their portion by 2024.
A few top priorities for the board were cybersecurity, development of the Callaway Community Hospital in Fulton, and strengthening the local economy.
In reviewing what could be covered by the funding, Thomas said they could update IT equipmentment like laptops, security cameras, Holts Summit Police Department car and body cameras, or look at buying new. The board echoed that idea, saying security systems are of particular importance right now.
"Computers and surveillance cameras would be huge for the budget," HSPD Lt. Brandon Ruediger said, adding things like hotspots could be helpful for city employees and rural communities. "Every computer you see in this building is on Windows 7."
The funding could also be used for healthcare, and one immediate need would be development of the Callaway Community Hospital, which wants to build another building.
"During COVID, they realized they didn't have two entrances - one for sick people and one for well people," Thomas said, "and that was a big issue."
The hospital wants to both update and build onto its current building to create more safety for sick and well patients - Thomas said this would require a lot of funding. In the last round of CARES Act funding, the county helped pay for a 7-bed ICU, but there is more to do.
"It's a giant project," she said. "I don't know if it's going to get fully funded or partially funded."
The board also considered forming a committee on economic development - similar to the one focused on property tax mentioned in their July special meeting - to focus on how to use the CARES Act funds to effectively boost their economy. City Clerk Rachel Anderson mentioned cities like Rolla had done this and "expanded their (economic) borders" well.
Overall, Thomas recognized many citizens have been wondering how the next round of CARES Act funding will be spent, and local governments are figuring it out, too.
"I've been trying to funnel through our entire City Admin listserv; there are constant questions," she said. "There's talk, but everybody's in the same boat. We're all trying to figure this out."