Village Board Authorizes ARPA Funds For Public Works Equipment

SHOREWOOD, WI — The Shorewood Village Board authorized using part of the Village's American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase a new street sweeper and two new leaf vacuum trucks at meetings Monday.

The Board was also scheduled to hold a public hearing on Monday regarding the 2022 budget.

In the Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, Village Manager Rebecca Ewald said the leaf vacuums were identified as a top service priority in a DPW study.

The Village was awarded $1,375,868 under the Federal ARPA Grant Program. On Sept. 8, the Village Board discussed what the money could be used for. A presentation and possible vote slated to take place at the Nov. 15 Village Board meeting will determine if part of those funds should be used for the new equipment.

A new street sweeper would cost about $350,000. The sweeper and the two new leaf vacuums would cost $440,000 in total. $462,000 remains in the Village's ARPA budget.

The new vehicles could prove beneficial in a few key ways. According to the presentation planned for the board, both items would qualify as an investment in sewer infrastructure as the vehicles would help to reduce the village's maximum daily stormwater loads.

Purchasing the vehicles now with ARPA funds would also alleviate the need to fund the vehicle's eventual replacement through other funding sources, the presentation to the Village Board said. Additionally, it may reduce costs down the road as the two leaf vacuums would be an upgrade that could improve efficiency by reducing staff time and contracted labor costs, according to the presentation. The savings for leaf collection in the fall could be $10,000.

More information and details to attend the Nov. 15 Village Board meeting can be found online.

Editors note: A previous version of this article suggested the proposed use of ARPA funds was proposed by "staff," this article has been updated.