Marlboro County will receive almost $6 million from the American Rescue Act Plan.
County Administrator Ron Munnerlyn updated county council members about the funds at their Tuesday meeting.
The act was signed on March 11 by President Joe Biden and provides $1.9 trillion. The state will receive about $3.8 billion.
Munnerlyn said there have been no definitive rules regarding what the money can be used for.
He added the funds are intended to provide financial revitalization to the local economy and assist with infrastructure issues.
Staff had made a preliminary list of items that fit the board rules and would have a positive effect on the economic future of the county.
Items such as applying aggregate to all unpaved county roads with people living on them; develop a revolving loan fund for small businesses; set aside funds to remove eyesores and derelict structures along the main roads/highways in the county; and hire a consultant to conduct a study on the feasibility and cost of making S.C. Hwy 38 north four-lane from Bennettsville to the North Carolina line.

   Other business
In other business, county council members:
— approved the third reading of a road protection ordinance to help protect county roadways from unnecessary or advanced deterioration. The ordinance will also provide penalties for violations.
— approved the second reading of ordinance #809 authorizing the conveyance of 1.50 acres more or less, of real property owned by Marlboro County located at Industrial Lane to “Project Ox” and to authorize county officials to take such action as necessary to effectuate the purposes of this ordinance, and other matters related thereto.
— approved first reading (title only) of ordinance #811 to adopt the annual budget and to make appropriations for Marlboro County for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2021, and ending June 30, 2022. 
— approved first reading (title only) of ordinance #812 to approve the Capital Improvement Plan for Marlboro County for the period of FY 2022-2026.
— approved the first reading of ordinance #810 to establish and collect a local hospitality tax in Marlboro County.
— approved emergency ordinance #808 to declare a state of emergency in Marlboro County and other matters related thereto.
— approved resolution #03-21-02 designating the month of April as the South Carolina Fair Housing Month for 2021.
— approved ordinance #814 ratifying and authorizing the allocation of certain revenues derived from one or more economic development projects located in Marlboro County, South Carolina in the Joint County Industrial and Business Park between Darlington and Marlboro counties; and other matters related thereto.
— approved first reading (title only) ordinance #815 establishing the Marlboro County Library Board.
— approved first reading (title only) ordinance #816 establishing the Marlboro County Historic Preservation Commission.
— approved first reading (title only) ordinance #817 establishing the Marlboro County Planning Commission.
— approved resolution #04-21-01 authorizing submission of an application by Marlboro County for Airport CARES Grant from the Federal Aviation Administration for $9,000 and authorization to accept the grant if awarded.
— approved resolution #04-21-02 expressing support for possible expansion of the Tri-County Industrial Park Partnership with Marion and Dillon counties with regards to the property in Marion County.
— reviewed and approval of amended and restated Declaration of Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions for the I-95 Gateway Industrial Park and Adjacent Commercial Property, Dillon, South Carolina.
— reappointed Ella Ross to serve on the Housing and Community Re-Development Authority of Marlboro County Board for an additional four-year term.
— Learned the Community Clean-Up event will be from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 15. Volunteers are encouraged to focus on the main corridors of the county such as Highway 38 (North and South), Highway 9 (East and West), and Highway 15-401 (East and West). To volunteer, contact Patricia Bundy at 843-479-5600.
— Will resume all future council meetings in council chambers, 214 E. Market Street. This is due to the Centers for Disease Control announcing their findings that vaccinated people can safely participate in small indoor meetings with other vaccinated people without the need for masks. People are encouraged to continue to wear masks in public spaces or situations with unvaccinated individuals.
— Learned the deadline for the second edition of the county newsletter is May 10.
— learned general revenue funds for the nine months ending March 31 totaled $9,302,040. General fund expenditures through March 31 totaled $8,351,440 of a $12,038,883 budget or 69.37 percent of the budget year-to-date. As of the same date, the county has $5,050,529 in the four general fund operating accounts.

     Anniversaries
Munnerlyn recognized the following employees with five or more years of service to the county through March: Patricia Bundy, eight years; Martha McQuage, 14 years; Luther Brown, 19 years; Beverly McKiver, 25 years; and Don Driggers, 10 years.