WARREN, Ohio - A total of $38 million in American Rescue Funds are going Trumbull County to reinvest into the community to help with the ripple effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Commissioners do not yet have a concrete plan on how to spend the money.

They have four years to spend the federal funds. At the commissioner's workshop Tuesday, they discussed whether to hold public forums to get input from the people of Trumbull County and leaders from interested communities.

"I think we should be talking to all the townships, all the people who are interested have some good ideas," Frank Fuda said, county commissioner.

Commissioner Niki Frenchko agrees that public feedback is needed, but she also wants a neutral panel to rank the ideas from the public before deciding where the money will go.

"Having that additional layer I think is necessary in a community like Trumbull County, where politics come into play a little too much in decision making," Frenchko said.

During their meeting, tensions were high. All three commissioners admit they have their differences.

"I think it's just them stonewalling me, because they don't want me to have the idea to present anything that's been successful," Frenchko said.

Fuda claims Frenchko's interruptions during meetings and what describes as misplaced ideas are slowing down their ability to run the county.

"It makes it difficult, it really does," he said.

Commissioner Mauro Cantalamessa echoed the similar thoughts.

"It's been a challenging setting, because we obviously have different priorities and different thoughts and different ideologies when it comes to just about everything," Cantalamessa said.

Cantalamessa shared his proposal with 21 News last week. Fuda says he agrees with the outline Cantalamessa layed out.

During their back and forth on the ARP spending process, Cantalamessa called on Frenchko to show up to work and asked for her ideas.

"I'm still waiting on you to develop anything," Cantalamessa said to Frenchko.

All three commissioners believe the county needs to hire an outside consultant to help oversee the spending process.

Money for potential infrastructure projects have some time to wait, but Cantalamessa believes non-profits and small businesses that took a financial hit during the pandemic shutdowns and months of uncertainty need help sooner.

"I think with our small business loan program, with our grant program for small businesses, with our non-profits, that's stuff we should set aside sooner rather than later," he said.