Flint council making small steps toward spending ARPA funds

FLINT, Mich. (WNEM) - Can Flint City Council members agree on ways to spend $23 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money before time runs out?

That's the question the community was hoping to have an answer for tonight, but TV5′s Trae Harris reported a decision will have to wait.

Related: Flint leaders discuss dangers of not spending ARPA funds

"We got a little progress. I'm going to say 5% productive right now," said Lottie Durrett, a resident of Flint's 1st Ward.

Flint City Council made progress at the meeting on Wednesday evening, Nov. 6, by making votes on how to spend $23 million in ARPA funds before the Dec. 31 deadline.

"Tonight's meeting, it went okay, but I think it would've been more productive," Durrett said.

It's a sign city council is heading in the right direction, but not before a couple of community members were escorted out by police during the public comment period.

"How are we supposed to feel as a citizen when we come down? This is our freedom of choice, this is our chambers, this is where we voice our opinions," Durrett said.

Wednesday night's agenda saw ARPA funds voted for and approved to go to the InvolvedDad organization for mental health support services in the lump sum of $36,000, with an opportunity to receive more at Monday's council meeting on Nov. 11.

Questions arose over the proposed tree removal match program that would see the city match residents for $1,000 spent on tree removals.

Related: Flint mayor proposes matching funds for tree removals

But even with that progress made, residents like Durrett said that's barely reaching the surface of the city work that needs to be done by city council.

"Don't get me wrong, we appreciate that thousand dollars, but a tree removal can cost you anywhere from $2,500 to $10,000. Depends on the size of your tree," she said.

After a month of meeting violations , Durrett said she's hoping for more professionalism from council members.

"A lot of people deal in feelings. You can't deal in feelings. This is a job, you have to do it. Everybody's not going to agree with you. You can't bully your way in and say what's going to be done," she said.