TOWN OF DIAMOND BLUFF – The Town of Diamond Bluff will receive $52,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds, and the town board discussed ways the money could be utilized at its July 8 meeting.

Town Clerk Todd Mehrkens said the town was encouraged by Pierce County and state officials to apply for the funds. Half will come into town coffers this summer and half next year. The money needs to be spent by 2026.

The town was asked by both Bevcomm and Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services to consider earmarking funds toward expansion of broadband service. Town Chair Jeff Holst suggested the money be utilized instead for stormwater improvements. There are narrow uses allowed for the money and broadband expansion and “green infrastructure” are a couple of them.

“We don’t have a staff, so we didn’t have any COVID-19 expenses that could be reimbursed,” said Mehrkens. “They’re still refining this, but broadband is one area we could spend it. We can always send the money back too.”

As far as broadband goes, Bevcomm already offers the high-speed internet service throughout Diamond Bluff.

“Everything covered or they’ll have it covered,” said Mehrkens.

“As far as I’m concerned, our area already is covered,” said Holst.

Mehrkens also suggested the possibility of using the funding to get internet service at the town hall, which could be necessary in the future if election information needs to be transmitted that way.

“We could make the internet service open to the community. People who don’t have internet, they could pull up here and park,” he said.

Said Holst, “I’d rather not spend $100 a month on internet. For our little township, $1,000 a year is a substantial amount of money.”

He said that there perhaps are some eligible stormwater projects.

“We’re looking at some of those issues with the county that the county is responsible for,” said Holst. “That water that comes under the railroad tracks and comes across our land. That might be one spot. There’s spots in the township where we could use that.”