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Commissioners approve $100,000 conditional award for Family Care Excellence after debate
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Summary
After a lengthy debate about project scope and ongoing costs, the Hancock County Commission voted 2–1 to award $100,000 in opioid‑related funds to Family Care Excellence, contingent on a memorandum of understanding to be approved at a public meeting.
The Hancock County Commission voted 2–1 on March 26 to approve a conditional award of $100,000 to Family Care Excellence for opioid‑related services, after commissioners debated the project’s size, operating costs and oversight.
The motion to award the $100,000 was made by S4 (Commissioner), who said, “At this time, I'm not comfortable doing the full 800,000, but I do, would like to do something with an MOU agreement…a dollar amount of a 100,000” and proposed that the award be contingent on a memorandum of understanding and a public meeting to finalize terms. Chair S2 clarified that the award would not be fulfilled unless all parties agreed to the MOU at a public meeting and the commission voted to approve it.
Commissioner S6 led opposition, arguing the county did not have adequate details about construction and ongoing operating costs. S6 said the proposed 24‑by‑48 building raised concerns about sustainability: “a 24 by 48 is a lot for the county to pay without any assurances that there's money in the organization to provide the upkeep, the maintenance, to have employees, the utility bills.” S6 also said workshops he had requested to review the proposal were not supported and that more concrete material lists and a final total project figure were needed before the county should commit funds.
Earlier, S6 moved to table the award and request additional information; that motion failed on a voice vote. After debate, the commission recorded the award motion as carrying with two ayes and one nay. The commission directed staff to schedule a public meeting on the day of the next commission meeting for the parties to discuss and finalize the MOU and conditions that would protect the county’s interests.
The award is explicitly contingent: if the parties do not reach and approve an MOU at a public meeting, the $100,000 award will not be fulfilled. The commission did not specify additional funding sources or timeline for disbursement beyond the requirement that the MOU be approved in a public meeting.
