MANSFIELD — Mansfield City Council on Tuesday night reallocated $476,679 in unspent American Rescue Plan Act funds toward two previously approved projects.
Lawmakers moved $372,429 to the Wayfinders homeless shelter project and $104,250 to the Westinghouse Arch project.
Under federal ARPA rules, additional funds can be moved to projects previously approved. But all work must be complete by the end of 2026.
In November 2024, City Council approved $500,000 in ARPA funds to Wayfinders to help facilitate its move to a larger facility at 661 Park Ave. East from its current 124 W. Third St. location.
In August 2022, local lawmakers approved $40,000 in ARPA funds to help preserve and reposition a mammoth stone and brick entry from the Fifth Street side of the now-demolished Westinghouse “A” building.
Wayfinders Executive Director Miles Parsons said the cost of the renovation for its planned new home has risen to about $2.8 million, up from initial estimates of $2.2 to $2.3 million.
“Overall, the project is going well,” Parsons told City Council. “We did have some unexpected costs.”
One of the biggest changes in the work at the former medical offices building has come in the form of mold damage and asbestos abatement.
“We knew that the mold damage was going to be there. We didn’t realize how significant that was going to be,” Parsons said.
“We’ve done everything the absolute right way. We’re certainly mindful all of the expenses and we want to make sure we’re making this a building for many years to come.”
He told lawmakers the project must be done by Oct. 25 and may be finished even sooner.
The current facility can host 58 people in a 4,700 square-foot building with a basement. The new one will house 78 to 80 in a building that’s almost 13,000 square feet, according to Parsons.
“We saw a record high last year in terms of shelter numbers,” he told council. “We saw 650 individuals. We’re on pace (in 2026) to see 792.
“So the need is unfortunately growing.”
Richland County commissioners also contributed $500,000 to the project from county ARPA dollars in December 2024.
Blair McClenathan, the city’s chief deputy engineer, said the plan is to have the historic Westinghouse arch reassembled and placed back at the former factory site by the end of 2026.
The arch was disassembled into 38 pieces by WR Restoration before the building was demolished.
“The construction of the doorway itself is fairly simple,” McClenathan said, adding that pieces of the original arch will be used.
“We are going to be able to reuse all original pieces, except for the base stones. They were too damaged based off water and salt the (original door’s) proximity to the road.
“It should be a pretty quick project.”
City Council on Tuesday also:
— approved the city administration’s plan to spend federal Community Development Block Grant dollars for 2026.
— voted to accept a $4,300 donation from the Mansfield Rotary Club and a $14,468 grant from Richland Public Health, both of which will benefit the city’s parks and recreation department. Rotary Club funds will be used to build an ADA-walkway to the dog park at Sterkel Park and the latest RPH grant will pay for basketball goals at Prospect Park.
— voted to accept a $200 donation from Mechanics Bank to be used in the upcoming annual Bike-A-Palooza event at North Lake Park.
— voted to appoint four members to the city’s Police Review and Community-Police Relations commission: Nikie Jeruta (1st Ward), Jason Taylor (2nd Ward), Michelle Isaac (5th Ward) and Sara Hampton (6th Ward.)
— voted to appoint Jessica Gribben to the Downtown Improvement Advisory Board. Gribben is the new president and CEO of Richland Area Chamber & Economic Development.
— adopt changes to personnel positions, pay grades and salaries for designated city employees during 2026.
— voted to amend the Mansfield Fire Prevention Code at the request of Chief Dan Crow.
