Henry County to join opioid 'remnant' settlement and authorize negotiation on a small cul‑de‑sac sale

After returning from a closed session on real estate and pending litigation, Henry County Fiscal Court moved to authorize a county official to negotiate purchase of a small remnant parcel and to participate in a recently announced opioid 'remnant defendants' settlement.

The court voted to give Scott authority to negotiate the purchase of the cul‑de‑sac off Wolf Pen after members said a private landowner adjacent to the parcel wished to buy it. The motion to grant negotiating authority was moved and seconded on the record and approved.

On opioid litigation, the court approved a motion to participate in the ‘six remnant defendants settlement’ that the county had previously joined for other settlements. Cassidy, who spoke after closed session, told the court that six additional defendants settled on Feb. 23 and that this particular settlement’s national total is $97,625,000; the county would receive funds administered by the same formula used for prior opioid settlement disbursements.

A magistrate said participating is necessary to receive available abatement funds; officials cautioned that participation simply provides eligibility for funds and that the final county allocation depends on the state/local administration formula.

Why it matters: opioid settlement funds are earmarked for abatement programs and can be used for prevention, treatment, and related services. The court emphasized timely participation to avoid losing eligibility for distributed funds. The court recorded unanimous approval for the remnant‑settlement participation vote.