Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: BOCC - Board of County Commissioners

Directors' Update: TBD

Business Meeting: Aug. 24, 2020

Summary:

Approving a grant agreement with Breeze LLC for up to $150,000.00 using Coronavirus Relief Funds. Funds will be used for installation and enhancement to wireless systems in the rural areas of Lewis County to facilitate distance learning and telework capabilities.  

Publications:

Cover Letter To: Peter Crosby, Breeze, LLC. 805 F. Street, Centralia, WA 98531

Additional Copies To: Becky Butler, Tamara Hayes, Steve Wohld, Erik Martin

Resolution

WHEREAS, the US Treasury has made payments from the Fund to States and eligible units of local government; the District of Columbia and U.S. Territories (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands); and Tribal governments (collectively “governments”); and

WHEREAS, the CARES Act requires that the payments from the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) only be used to cover expenses that (1) are necessary expenditures incurred due to the public health emergency with respect to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19); (2) were not accounted for in the budget most recently approved as of March 27, 2020, (the date of enactment of the CARES Act) for the State or government; and (3) were incurred during the period that begins on March 1, 2020, and ends on December 30, 2020; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County was the recipient of a CRF Grant in the amount of $4,371,400 through the Washington State Department of Commerce for costs incurred in response to the COVID-19-related public health emergency during the period of March 1, 2020, through October 31, 2020; and

WHEREAS, the COUNTY has determined that eligible expenditures include expenses to facilitate distance learning, including technological improvements, in connection with school closings to enable compliance with COVID-19 precautions. Expenses to improve telework capabilities for public employees to enable compliance with COVID-19 public health precautions; and

WHEREAS, Breeze LLC has requested a grant using CRF funds for installation and enhancement to wireless systems in the rural areas of Lewis County to facilitate distance learning and telework capabilities.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED the BOCC has determined that the activity herein described meets the US Treasury guidelines for use of CRF under the CARES Act, are eligible for reimbursement from the Washington State Department of Commerce and is in the best interest of the general welfare, health and safety of the citizens of the County in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 Virus and approves funding in up to $150,000.00 from the Coronavirus Relief Funds for the purposes stated in the attached agreement.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 24th day of August, 2020.