County receives Rescue Plan funds

St. Joseph County received the first installment of its American Rescue Plan allocation Tuesday.

County finance director Angie Steinman informed commissioners during their meeting Tuesday that the amount totaled $5.9 million. County officials have been told to expect a total of nearly $12 million.

Steinman said she will await direction from county treasurer Kathy Humphreys to decide in which fund the money will be placed. Input will also come from a steering committee that includes Steinman, Humphreys, county commissioners Dan Czajkowski and Kathy Pangle, and county administrator Teresa Doehring .

The committee has already met a few times and its most serious consideration to date appears to be investment into boosting broadband coverage countywide.

Steinman said the second check is not expected to be in hand for another year.