Lincoln County Approves Purdue Pharma Opioid Settlement and Seeks Hurricane Relief Grant

The Lincoln County Board of Commissioners convened on August 14, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including opioid settlement agreements, disaster relief grants, solid waste fees, and parking lot repairs.

The meeting commenced with a discussion on the county's participation in the Purdue Pharma opioid settlement. Director Dawson reported that Lincoln County received four settlement payments ranging from $1,300 to $6,900, with approximately $40,000 allocated for automatic external defibrillators. The board unanimously approved a motion to join the Purdue Pharma settlement and authorized the chairman and county attorney to accept any future national opioid settlements, streamlining the process for future agreements.

Next, Director Seymour presented a proposal to apply for a $2 million grant from the 1 Georgia Authority for disaster relief related to damages from Hurricane Helene. The board approved two motions: one to authorize the chairman to sign grant application documents and another to hire Cranston Engineering for a preliminary engineering report, with costs not to exceed $9,900. The board noted that while there are no specific matching fund requirements, they would assess potential matching contributions once the engineering report is completed.

The meeting then shifted to solid waste fees. The board discussed the necessity of adopting a new fee for solid waste services, which would be set at $299.40 per residential unit for the upcoming tax year. This fee is essential to cover costs associated with the county's contract with Reliant, the waste management service provider. The motion to set the fee was passed unanimously.

Lastly, the board addressed the condition of parking lots in the county. Director Dawson indicated that the parking lots require significant repairs and proposed to seek bids for the work. The board decided to postpone any action on this item until a later date, allowing for further assessment and bidding.

In conclusion, the meeting effectively addressed critical issues impacting Lincoln County, with decisions made to enhance public safety through opioid settlements, secure disaster relief funding, establish solid waste fees, and plan for necessary infrastructure repairs. The board will reconvene to discuss the parking lot repairs and any further developments regarding the disaster grant application.