WARREN, Ohio - Council members in Warren are discussing how to spend $500,000 dollars in American Rescue Plan funds for their respective wards or citywide. 
 
They believe the city takes care of big needs such as police, fire/ems, road paving, and snow plowing, but there is no money left to address other important issues. 
 
There is often no money to help residents with cutting down rotting trees, replacing sidewalks, and flooding issues.
 
 But $500.000 half a million in American Rescue Plan funds earmarked for each council person who wants the funds could greatly help folks in Warren. 
 
"People are complaining about their sidewalks, about trees and parks. They would like to go to walk around and take their kids too," Councilman Ronald White, Sr. said. 
 
Councilman Ken MacPhearson would use one-half million dollars to set up a self-sustaining fund for residents who live anywhere in the city.
 
"I'm all about creating a program where we have a revolving loan fund that helps residents take down trees, fix their sidewalks, fix their sewers," Councilman MacPhearson said.
 
Members of the council at the meeting expressed frustration that some people wrongly believe council persons will receive the money and that is not the case.
 
"The projects would be fully vetted by the administration and voted on by the council, so we are not going to do things that don't help the city," Councilman Andrew Herman emphasized.
 
Cheryl Saffold who represents the ward that needs the most help would use the money to put bathrooms in Quinby Park and rebuild Southwest Park with a walking path so people can exercise, She also has plans to help the elderly in a neighborhood hard hit by violence and homicides.
 
Ín addition safety has always been a concern so we want to give those Ring surveillance doorbell cameras for the elderly, so they can feel comfortable if someone were to come on their porch," Councilwoman Cheryl Saffold said.
 
Wednesday the full city council will discuss details and deadlines.