Warren City Council continues to try to piece together funding for a proposed downtown boat launch.

The conversation during Monday’s budget session started with a synopsis of the funding committed to the project at this point: $473,576 in city American Rescue Plan funds, $1.5 million in state grant funding, $285,000 in funding — $90,000 grant and $190,000 in match — in Fish and Boat funding and $40,000 from the Warren County Development Association.

Council tabled using $500,000 in loan proceeds from borrowing for parking garage repairs.

Councilman John Wortman laid out a path for some local tax dollars being included in the effort.

Wortman highlighted two projects — a disc golf course and a new tornado siren.

A location has not been selected for the disc golf course while Fire Chief Dave Krogler projected that the existing siren could last another year.

Those projects total an estimated $102,000 and Wortman asked for those funds to come back before council next week as a possible addition to the riverfront funding package.

Councilman Maurice Cashman asked when construction could start on the project.

Acting City Manager Mike Holtz speculated 2025 “and that’s probably ambitious.”

He said there is a mussel study required as well as studies for the rocks and soils.

“It won’t take all that long to build,” he said, noting it will take longer to design the ramp. “We’ve directed our engineer to keep designing.”

Hazard pay issue on agenda

Representatives of the city’s police, fire and public works unions petitioned council a couple months ago for hazard pay for service during the COVID-19 pandemic..

This meets one of the uses for American Rescue Plan funding.

Councilwoman Wendy McCain said about $117,000 of the city’s allocation, which was just under $1 million, remains.

Wortman said the item will be on the December agenda.

Finance Officer Jessica Byler said the remaining funds “would not fully fund” the proposal from the unions.

She added that the funding has to be obligated by the end of 2024 and spent by the end of 2026.