IRON MOUNTAIN — Dickinson County accepted a $51,004 bid Monday to buy new windows for the courthouse’s east side, the latest in a list of projects to be paid with federal American Rescue Plan funds.

The county still has about $1.6 million uncommitted from its $4.9 million allocation, and some flexibility remains in plans approved so far, Controller Brian Bousley said.

The county has until the end of 2024 to fully obligate its funds and through the end of 2026 to wrap up the spending. ARP is a federal pandemic aid package authorized in March 2021.

The windows from Pella Corp. were selected as the low bid after a $53,086 proposal from St. George Glass & Window of Iron Mountain was also considered.

The board had tabled the two bids at its July 25 meeting, in part to see if the Pella windows were available without grille inserts. Pella’s price had been slightly higher, but removing the inserts took $2,744 off the total.

As part of its ARP planning, the county continues to keep an eye on the courthouse clock tower, although two engineering consultants have so far advised no further repairs appear to be needed for now. A $124,000 project was done in 2015 to prevent the 89-foot tower from shifting, and concerns were raised this spring that more work might be needed.

Bousley said Monday he would still like a third opinion. No study is pending at this time.

Of the $700,000 in ARP funds that the county has redirected to townships, about a third has so far been specified.

Each of the county’s seven townships received a $100,000 share for projects, subject to the board’s approval. To date, that list includes $100,000 toward a River Meadows Lane project in Norway Township; $100,000 toward Herzog Road repairs in Sagola Township; and $25,887 to purchase avehicle for Breitung Township use.

In other action Monday, the county board approved minutes from a July 28 special meeting that showed approval of the low bid of $72,499 from G. Brooks Electric Inc. for work on a hangar under construction at Ford Airport. There were three bidders, with MJ Electric of Iron Mountain the next-lowest at $76,170.