Does your county\city do things like this?
Ward County files civil suit against Project BEE over ARPA funds
MINOT, N.D. (KMOT) – Ward County is seeking more than $1.3 million in damages from Project BEE, a shelter in Minot, claiming the shelter received double funding for work on the Broadway Circle Project, according to a civil suit filed last week.
In the complaint dated Dec. 4, the attorney representing Ward County said the county approved reimbursements to Project BEE of $1,345,756 under an agreement through the American Rescue Plan Act to go towards the completion of the Broadway Circle project.
Broadway Circle is a family shelter and affordable housing project nearing completion that Project BEE had been overseeing before its financial issues.
The attorney said an audit revealed Project BEE received assistance for the same expenses from the city of Minot, prior to receiving funds from the county. The attorney said ARPA prohibits duplicate benefits.
The complaint indicates a non-compliance letter was sent to Project BEE in late October, demanding repayment for ineligible expenses.
Last December, Project BEE abruptly closed amid an investigation into its finances before reopening at the turn of the year. In August, Project BEE announced it would not be opening its warming shelter this year but would continue other services such as its diaper pantry.
Your News Leader reached out to Project BEE for comment.
In February, the city of Minot took over the completion of the Broadway Circle project from Project BEE. Although the city is not involved in the litigation, we reached out to a spokesperson for the city for comment.
The city of Minot is currently looking for someone to buy the homeless shelter and rely on donations (its nonprofit and you can't charge rent) to keep it funded and open.
Goole Broadway Circle for the complete story behind this project.
Apparently, the city didn't learn a lesson after the 2 parking garages and other things.