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Newton County commissioners unanimously approve grant application and multiple resolutions, including opioid settlement participation
Summary
The board voted unanimously to approve a juvenile justice grant application (up to $750,000, no county match), transmit the CIE/STWP to the DCA, express intent to participate in the national opioid settlement, and adopt reemployment and benefit‑suspension resolutions for rehired retirees.
Newton County commissioners approved several motions and resolutions unanimously during the April 21 meeting, including authorization to apply for a juvenile justice incentive grant, transmittal of the county's Capital Improvement Element/short‑term work program (Resolution R042126) to the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA), a resolution to express the county's desire to participate in the national opioid litigation settlement, and two related personnel resolutions allowing rehiring of retirees for hard‑to‑fill positions and the option to suspend benefit payments during reemployment.
On the juvenile justice incentive grant, presenter Katie Ryder said the award would replace an expiring grant and target services for low‑level juvenile offenders; she told the board the county can apply for up to $750,000 and that the grant carries no county match, adding that awarded services would be run through a service provider. "We can apply for up to $750,000," Ryder said. The board moved, seconded and approved the request to apply; the vote was recorded as unanimous.
Development Services Director Shaina Applewhite asked the board to transmit the county's Capital Improvement Element and short‑term work program (Resolution R042126) to the DCA for review. She said the resolution is time‑sensitive and must be adopted by June 30 for the county to maintain Qualified Local Government status; the motion to transmit the report was approved unanimously.
County Attorney Stephanie Johnson presented a resolution to express the county's desire to participate in the second settlement tied to the national opioid multidistrict litigation. "Participation in the settlement is the only way to get funds under Georgia law," Johnson told the board; she also said the county's recovery amount is unknown at this time. The board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
Acting County Manager James Brown presented two related personnel resolutions permitting the rehiring of retirees for hard‑to‑fill positions and giving rehired retirees the option to continue, suspend or postpone defined‑benefit payments during reemployment. Commissioners discussed the mechanics of retirement checks and the option for employees to postpone checks; both resolutions passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: - Juvenile justice incentive grant application: approved (unanimous); authorization to apply for up to $750,000; no county match. - Resolution R042126 (CIE/STWP transmittal to DCA): approved (unanimous); time sensitive for Qualified Local Government status. - Opioid settlement participation resolution: approved (unanimous); amount and county share not specified. - Reemployment of retirees / benefit suspension resolution(s): approved (unanimous); allow rehiring for hard‑to‑fill positions and provide options about benefit payment during reemployment.
The decisions were recorded as unanimous voice votes in the meeting transcript; specific mover/second names are not consistently recorded in the transcript excerpts. Several of the approved items are contingent on future steps (application approvals, DCA review, or settlement distributions) and will require additional administrative follow‑up.
