Nashville Quorum Court

Howard County has received half of its allotted two and a half million dollars in federal funding through the American Rescue Plan. The remaining portion of the money should be relieved sometime next year with all funds required to be spent by the end of 2024. County Judge Kevin Smith said there are specific restrictions on how the money can be spent. The Judge suggested taking the 1.28 million received and putting it towards making the old hospital building into an emergency command center that the county government could operate from, should the courthouse not be usable in a disaster. This same space would be used as a storage area for COVID-19 related protective equipment. 

Quorum Court also approved COVID-19 related bonus pay for Howard County employees. At yesterday’s meeting, J.P.’s approved bonuses of up to $1,400 for full time employees who continued to provide services to county citizens during the pandemic. Bonus pay will be less for offices that were closed for an extended period of time. Employees hired after the pandemic started, will be paid on the basis of their hire dates. Part time workers are scheduled to receive a $300 bonus while full time elected officials who worked during the pandemic will receive a $1,000 bonus. J.P.’s also discussed repairs at the senior adult center. The facility now requires more freezers & electric appliances than the building is rated to handle, which is causing breakers to regularly trip. Three additional circuits will be added to the building, with the cost coming in around $900.The building’s fire alarm system has seen repairs amounting to $486 and Judge Kevin Smith reported the facility’s air conditioning unit is also in need of repair.