It could be a few more weeks before Susanville decides how to use its remaining $2.65 million in Federal COVID relief ARPA funds.
This decision was deferred at the March 6th council meeting, where the council opted to wait for the newly elected members to be seated before proceeding, m, a disappointing decision to many in the room as some in the audience left the meeting following the announcement.
Another two-hour discussion ensued that evening, with the same various groups advocating for their causes. Abby Gerts Datema, a remote arts educator and curriculum specialist with the prestigious New York Julliard School of Arts, was a proponent of using a portion of the funds, earmarked at 1 million dollars, to go to the Susanville Symphony to purchase the Sierra Theatre, calling art fundamental to a community.
Larry Rogers of the Susanville Elks Lodge urged funds be allocated for much-needed repairs to sustain the Historic and Iconic Elks Lodge on top of Main Street as a community jewel rather than an eye sore. The Lodge will be shuttered without the means to sustain the building on thier own and make the necessary repairs.
City Manager Dan Newton acknowledged the difficulty in excluding the Elks Lodge from the original fund allocation, as staff initially recommended portions of the funds for the Symphony, marketing, city building repairs, city debt, and finalizing the General plan.
However, discussions included the possibility of redirecting funds toward the Elks Lodge, such as from the monies earmarked for marketing the city.
The council requested staff include the Elks Lodge proposal and review the Symphony’s agreement on the Sierra Theatre purchase. The new council is expected to be seated by mid-April, following the acceptance of the March 5th election results by the current council, and if requested to be brought back before the members will approve the expenditure plan without committing the city to any obligation.
Access to council agendas and streamed meetings on the city’s website.
