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Council approves opioid‑settlement MOU to fund Aiken Center partnership and public‑safety positions
Summary
The council unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Aiken Center to administer South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund (SCORF) monies locally, fund two public‑safety positions and form a countywide steering committee to guide programming.
Aiken City Council on Aug. 25 approved a memorandum of understanding with the Aiken Center to formalize the city’s participation in SCORF (South Carolina Opioid Recovery Fund) and to deploy settlement funds for opioid‑related prevention and treatment work.
Staff said the city will partner with the Aiken Center and other local organizations to produce a SCORF community action plan and to fund two positions within the Department of Public Safety focused on opioid misuse and disorder response. The Aiken Center will staff a countywide steering committee with one or two representatives to guide use of funds and program implementation.
Margaret (last name not specified in transcript), an Aiken Center representative, said an initial guaranteed allocation under prior settlement rounds was already distributed to the city and that additional settlement streams (including the national manufacturers settlement) may expand available funding. She said the city and partners will prepare a detailed budget and program proposal for submission by the October application deadline and that programmatic and financial reporting would follow.
Council members praised the partnership and urged the city to fund evidence‑based recovery services rather than creating stand‑alone city programs. The motion to approve the MOU passed by unanimous voice vote.
