Daniel Prince
Apr 11, 2023
SC opioid settlement, first reading of budget among matters on the agenda
Union County council is set to hold their regular monthly meeting today at 5:30 p.m. at the Union County Courthouse. As usual, it will be held in the Grand Jury room on the 2nd floor.
Sheriff Jeff Bailey and Investigator Kristin Spencer will request funding for the Union County Sheriff’s Office’s back-to-school backpack giveaway event. Spencer made a similar presentation to Union City Council last month, and they voted to contribute $1000 to the event. Bailey and Spencer are expected to ask for the same amount from the county. Council will then vote on whether or not to fund the event.
Council will next consider appending an application to PEBA allowing employees who qualify as firefighters to participate in the Police Officers Retirement System.
They will then consider two items dealing with the South Carolina Opioid Litigation. They will consider approval of the Amended Allocation Agreement, and then they will consider approval to participate in the New Settlements for the litigation. Back in January 2022, council voted to approve the distribution settlement, the Jannsen settlement, and the proposed SC allocation agreement, and they had authorized then-Supervisor Frank Hart to execute and submit the agreements on behalf of the county. However, the settlement could not take place until all counties voted to agree to it. Back then, Hart said settlement would open up some funding to support opioid treatment, prevention, and other activities. The state was expected to receive around $360 million from the lawsuit.
Next, council will consider approving the new Prioritized Community Needs list prepared by Catawba Regional. That list was discussed in a public hearing at the February meeting. The list has 12 items on it, topped by project to extend water and sewer lines to serve the area on Highway 176 between the Belk Distribution Center building and the Spartanburg County line, as well as the Trakas Industrial Park and other areas not being served.
Union County Development Board Director Dolton Williams will make a recommendation to council to fill the Public and Private Utilities openings on the Development Board. Council will then consider the appointments.
Council will next consider any requests to fill vacant budgeted positions and requests for capital funds.
There is one ordinance up for vote on the agenda. Council will vote on the first reading in title only of the budget ordinance for fiscal year 2023-2024. Council will begin work on the budget later this month in a couple of budget workshops.
Supervisor Phillip Russell will present his report to council, followed by any committee reports and reports and announcements from council members. An executive session is planned to discuss a contractual matter.
The public is invited to attend, and the meeting will be streamed live on the county’s Facebook page.