GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The Board of County Commissioners is committed to $10.6 million in CARES Act funding, and it has submitted its first request for reimbursement from the state.

The county already has been paid nearly $9.5 million from the state as part of its CARES Act initiative, which is an act that gives local governments funding to dole out to local businesses, families, and government entities in need. Clay County has surpassed its original amount, but it did it with the understanding it would be

reimbursement. The county is now waiting for a show of good faith from the state.

“We’ll see if we get the million dollars and that’ll show if the state is good for the other 75%,” County manager Howard Wanamaker said. “We’ll keep an eye [on it] to make sure we don’t spend way over the $9.5 million. This was a way to ask for that...reimbursable to ensure that the good faith is there.”

Once the county knows the state intends to reimburse the county, it will proceed forward with additional CARES Act funding costs. CARES Act lead Troy Nagle said the county is currently committed to $10.6 million. With the request for reimbursement sent out, Nagle said the county is focusing on getting all individual applications in a near-complete or complete stage.

He said that about 30% of applications have been approved with many more near completion. They just need to submit a couple of additional documents. The 30% approved accounts for roughly $2.4 million but the BCC has already approved individual spending up to $3 million.

“We will continue to go to the $3 million that was authorized [by the BCC)]” Nagle said. “If we don’t get reimbursements back from the state, there will have to be some discussions we have to have.”

The county can’t ask for complete reimbursement until the fund is spent and approved.

“Until I spend it or until I’ve accounted for it as an encumbrance, I can’t ask the state to reimburse it,” Nagle said. “I can’t ask the state to reimburse me for money we haven’t yet spent or money I don’t have a contract for. They’re not reimbursing you on the $9.5 million they’ve already given you...just the money beyond that.”

In other business, the county appears to have received the greenlight for purchasing some buildings to be used for a new health department and an emergency preparations warehouse. It asked the CARES Act treasury if purchasing a building falls under the CARES Act’s umbrella and they were told if the county deems it a necessity, it will be approved.

Nagle said the warehouse and health department building are much higher in necessity than the recently-approved business incubator, which is the third building the BCC is looking to purchase. The incubator might raise more eyebrows when it comes to being deemed a necessity, Nagle said. It’s still a possibility but a new health department and emergency warehouse are what’s the BCC’s building priority.

“As we look at this on Sept. 8, we’ll look at this to see if it’s all necessary.”