The city of Muleshoe is working out how to best utilize allocated COVID funding.

The city held a public hearing on Thursday in accordance with the Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds received from the U.S. Department of Treasury in response to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Present were Mayor Colt Ellis, council member Lupe Mendoza, council member Crystal Alarcon, council member Earl Behrends, Public Works Director Juan Flores, City Secretary Zanea Carpenter and City Manager Ramon M. Sanchez.

No members of the public were present.

The City of Muleshoe has been allocated $1.2 million. Half of that has been received by the City, and the other half will be received 12 months later.

The American Rescue Plan has stipulated how the money can be spent. Allocated funds can only be used for:

• Public health emergencies concerning COVID-19 or its negative economic impacts
• Providing premium pay to eligible essential workers or providing grants to eligible employers who have eligible employees
• Necessary investments in water, sewer or broadband infrastructure
• Reduction of revenue due to the COVID-19 public health emergency relative to revenues collected in the most recent full fiscal year

Proposed projects being considered are:

• Water line replacement
• Sewer line rehab
• Rehab of lift station
• Police/fire vehicles/equipment
• Parks open space pavilions
• COVID-19 testing/vaccine clinics, etc.