Wasilla passes third phase of CARES grants

WASILLA — The city of Wasilla unanimously approved phase three of its CARES small business and personal protective equipment grants among other business at its city council meeting on Sept. 14.

Resolution 20-30 passed unanimously and opens phase three of Wasilla’s small business CARES grant application process. As of last week, Wasilla had expended $1,295,474 through phases one and two. Phase three mirrors the stipulations for phase two so that businesses can reapply easily. Wasilla Mayor Bert Cottle said that with the possibility of a deadline extension on Federal CARES funds, additional amendments may be brought to the council at their next meeting on September 28. In discussion on Resolution 20-30, Councilman Stu Graham proposed a program similar to the Mat-Su Borough’s personal relief checks that have yet to be finalized.

“We’re still only at $1.85 million out the door for the small business covid 19 relief grants for which we allocated $7.74 million so we’re a long way from that. I will be bringing forward a program whereas households within the city of Wasilla would receive could receive a grant of $1,500 to offset covid related expenses,” said Graham.

Graham’s proposal has not yet been submitted to the council, but was discussed at the meeting last Monday. Cottle said that he would need to see Federal approval to approve such a measure, but Graham picked up the support of Councilman Tim Burney.

“People need help, that’s what we’re here for. Let’s try to do the best we can to help out who we can where we can through all this,” said Burney.

Graham asked which of the four categories for COVID-19 relief other council members believed it would fall under and received guidance from Finance Director Troy Tankersly from the recently released Department of Treasury Frequently Asked Questions guidance.

“A per capita payment to residents of a particular jurisdiction without an assessment of individual need would not be an appropriate use of payment from the fund, so you would have to specifically define what that need is and how the city would have to capture that information,” said Tankersly.

Graham said that he had examined the guidance and he believed it would be a justifiable expense if the relief funds were granted to individual homes and not individual people.

“It would be per residence not per resident,” said Graham.

Along with the CARES act relief funds, Graham also touched on the lingering COVID-19 virus.

“Be sensitive to those around you who may be more apt to pick up covid and you don’t know the reasons why and you certainly don’t’ have a need to ask them but I mean if someone asks you to wear a mask please wear a mask it’s not that big a deal,” said Graham.

Prior to approving phase three of the CARES grants, the council approved Resolution 20-32 to be presented for Public Hearing at their next meeting approving $720,000 in housing relief from the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation.

“In addressing probably the most expensive impact to a family being rental or housing obviously this was a great way for the city to move forward,” said Tankersly.

Tankersly said that over 100 residences will receive the grants of approximately $1,200 each.