County urges lawmakers to allow local control of CARES

Rock County Commissioners are encouraging state lawmakers to give local governments control over how additional coronavirus relief money should be distributed locally.
Among the decisions Monday night during this week’s special session was where additional relief money, estimated at about $218 million, would be spent.
Rock County could potentially receive $150,000 to $300,000 in additional funds to be spent within a 90-day window.
Commissioners meet Dec. 22 and will decide how the additional funds will be distributed.
Earlier this year commissioners infused $832,350 in CARES relief into the county, or about 70 percent of the initial relief amount received in July. Another $358,120 was spent in October and November.
A total of $1.188 million in CARES money was distributed in Rock County, according to written reports submitted to state officials.
At their Dec. 8 meeting, commissioners agreed a second round of CARES money will be distributed as effectively and as quickly as the first round.
The aid will target businesses affected by the recent monthlong in-person closure mandate set to end Saturday.
“Somehow we need to determine who is getting killed by this thing the worst and we need to help these people,” said Commissioner Greg Burger.
“The state has no idea who that is in Rock County — I think it needs to fall in our lap.”
The Rock County Board unanimously approved a resolution to that effect that will be shared with state lawmakers and the Association of Minnesota Counties, in which Rock County is a member.
 
‘Nothing went back’
Rock County previously allocated $1.188 million in CARES dollars to local businesses, nonprofit organizations and schools in a matter of months.
Local officials faced a Nov. 30 deadline to turn unspent dollars back to the state for distribution by the end of the year.
Commissioners discussed the expenditures and deadline status at their Dec. 8 meeting. “Nothing went back,” said Auditor-Treasurer Ashley Kurtz.
Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek school districts were among the last organizations to receive CARES dollars ($20,000 each).
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office closed out the county’s allocation by receiving $395 for overtime work related to the pandemic.
Rock County’s original allocation was $1.144 million but grew to $1.188 million when unspent dollars from three townships and one city with populations less than 200 residents was turned back for allocation elsewhere in the county.