Ben Hill County approves CDBG application, multiple contracts and $27,000 for school-focused opioid program
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Summary
At its March 4 meeting, the Ben Hill County Commission approved a CDBG application and several contracts and resolutions, re-appointed a solid-waste authority member and authorized $27,000 from opioid settlement funds for a six-month, school-based opioid prevention program; all motions passed unanimously.
The Ben Hill County Commission, chaired by Hal Wiley, approved a slate of contracts and resolutions and authorized $27,000 from the county’s opioid settlement fund for a school-centered opioid prevention program at its March 4 meeting in Fitzgerald.
County Manager Hampton Raulerson reported the county holds roughly $59,000 in the opioid settlement fund and described the funds’ use restrictions. Vice-Chair Hope Harmon outlined a proposed six-month program that would bring licensed counselors into schools to provide mental-health education and stigma reduction services and said, “There will be monthly reports, and I will be utilizing more education, and providing mental health services to the kids in person.” The commission voted to allocate $27,000 to the program.
The commission also approved by motion: a contract with Judicial Alternatives of Georgia for probationary services; a resolution declaring county property surplus and authorizing disposal; an SGRC agreement for technical assistance to update the county comprehensive plan; and a school resource officer (SRO) contract covering six officers. Commissioner John Mooney moved several of the contracts and Vice-Chair Hope Harmon seconded many of the motions; each vote was recorded as unanimous.
On grants, the board voted that no conflict of interest exists for the county’s FY2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) work, approved a resolution to submit an FY2025 CDBG application for street paving and drainage improvements, and approved a CDBG administration contract contingent on funding. The motions were presented and passed by voice vote.
The meeting also included routine business: the board re-appointed Tim Kegebein to the Fitzgerald Ben Hill County Solid Waste Authority and approved both the Feb. 4 regular meeting minutes and Feb. 18 special called meeting minutes.
Votes at a glance: The commission recorded unanimous approval (5–0) for the agenda; approval of Feb. 4 and Feb. 18 minutes; reappointment of Tim Kegebein; approval of the Judicial Alternatives of Georgia contract; adoption of the surplus-property resolution; SGRC technical-assistance agreement; SRO contract for six officers; CDBG no-conflict motion; CDBG submittal resolution; CDBG admin contract contingent on funding; and authorization to allocate $27,000 to the Ben Hill County Opioid Prevention Program.
Why it matters: The approved contracts and the CDBG application support local infrastructure, public safety and planning efforts. The opioid program funding targets youth mental-health supports and preventive education in local schools, an initiative the vice-chair framed as addressing children who witness parental substance-use impacts.
The commission gave direction for next steps where appropriate: County Manager Hampton Raulerson will work with the county attorney to draft personnel-policy language on inclement-weather pay and bring options back to the board for consideration. The meeting adjourned with no public comments or executive session.