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Board accepts opioid settlements, records FEMA payments and staff outlines storm-relief work
Summary
The board approved opting into two Purdue/Sackler settlements, accepted FEMA and regional-jail reconciliation updates (including a $1,044,000 reconciliation return), and reviewed DHCD individual relief processing for storm-damaged homeowners; the opioid abatement committee recommended $60,000 for a LifeTrak monitor to be confirmed by legal review.
Tazewell County officials on Aug. 5 reported multiple fiscal developments tied to recent storms, litigation and regional budgeting.
The county reported receipt of a FEMA payment of $337,000 related to hauling leachate after Hurricane Helene and said applications are pending for another $200,000 (leachate) and $321,000 for costs of diverting waste when the landfill was damaged. County staff said they have up to 18 months after the storm to submit additional damage claims.
Staff also reported 26 DHCD individual-relief applications for homeowners whose homes sustained major damage or were total losses in recent storms; one application was ready to send to DHCD this week and about 10 more were expected to be processed by mid-month. Staff outlined verification steps required before submission (proof of ownership, VDEM confirmation or contractor validation of major damage or total loss).
The board voted to opt into two Purdue/Sackler opioid settlements after outside counsel (Eric Barton of Cartwell & Wagstaff) recommended accepting the settlement documents and receiving the county’s calculated share. The board approved the settlements by motion and voice vote.
Separately, the Opioid Abuse Abatement Committee recommended $60,000 from abatement funds for a LifeTrak monitor for Tazewell County EMS. Meeting discussion referenced an amended figure in the transcript (a figure around $64,900 was mentioned), and the board approved the award subject to legal review to confirm the purchase fits program rules.
County representatives also reported final reconciliation from the regional jail would return approximately $1,044,000 to the county this year — about $250,000 more than budgeted — largely because major capital work was financed rather than paid out of pocket.
Board members moved and approved the various settlements, funding allocations and plan approvals as presented; staff were asked to continue processing DHCD applications and to report back on legal confirmation for opioid-abatement funding uses.
