Munster F.O.P. Would Like To See Funds From Covid Relief Act Go To First Responders
The Munster Fraternal Order of Police Lodge #147 addressed The Munster Town Council, Tuesday, during open discussion in regards to the remaining unallocated funds from the 2021 American Rescue Act.
Munster F.O.P. President Jack De Leeuw stated, “During the beginning of the worldwide health crisis (Covid-19), destructive riots, and protests that affected departments around the country including Munster, their members worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of the citizens.” Members of the F.O.P stated the health & safety of themselves were compromised daily including their respective families they came home to daily.
The impact of Covid itself had a tremendous impact on municipalities across the country including Munster. The American Rescue Act of 2021 provided municipalities with 350 billion dollars in additional funding for municipalities. Eligible use of this funding included revenue replacement for government services in the extent of revenue reduction due to Covid-19 health emergency, premium pay for essential workers, assistance to small businesses, households and industries. The Rescue Act also allowed improvements to infrastructure such as water, sewer, and broadband.
The Town of Munster was expected or did receive a little over 5 million dollars from The American Rescue Act according to a town ordinance. The Town of Munster allocated a portion of these funds to the Parks Department in the amount of $500,000 for loss of revenue, 1.1 million dollars for the purchase of a new fire engine, and 2.5 million for water infrastructure improvements, De Leeuw stated. It’s estimated the town should have around $984,000 not allocated as of September.
The FOP members feel their duties as essential employees in uncertain times during the pandemic and protests went unnoticed with the extra funding, unlike many neighboring communities who showed appreciation to their employees on the front lines.
Examples of such premiums and bonuses in the area included Lake County employees receiving $1,000, the Towns of Schererville and Highland provided each employee $2,000 with The Town of Highland receiving an extra $1,000 for vaccinated employees. Crown Point and Lowell employees received $3,000, City of East Chicago employees received $3,500, City of Hobart and Town of Merrillville employees received $4,500 and in Gary each Police Officer received $6,500.
“Each of those municipalities had their own reasoning in dispersing the funds to employees who were deemed to be essential and continued to be on the front lines during that difficult time in our nation’s history,” De Leeuw said.
The question was then asked if members of the Council plan to allocate any of the remaining funds from the Rescue Plan to provide premium pay or bonuses to town essential employees specifically Officers of the Munster Police Department.
The council will look over the information discussed.
