The American Rescue Plan provided over $9 million dollars of funding to Winona County. Winona County Board chair Chris Meyer has put a lot of thought put into those decisions.
The county board had set a framework for the funds during its board meeting on Oct. 26. Under this framework, the board approved use of $2.6 million “to extend broadband to underserved and unserved areas in rural Winona County.”
Meyer said that broadband was a priority.
“My understanding from the conversation was that once achieved we would only have 900 households across the count that don’t have service,” Meyer told the Winona Daily News.
“My favorite projects include starting up a Family Treatment Court. This is one of those projects that is not just the right thing to do in that it reduces pain and suffering by helping folks, but it also returns far more benefit financially in future social services support,” Meyer said.
“I invite the public to reach out as well. Send us emails, give us a call, have a conversation with me,” Sherman said. “Once we have a clearer picture, I personally would invite the public input on where we should be spending or what they think are important to them. And then we can make a decision as a council and move forward.”