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Newton County accepts $100,250 opioid-abatement grant and approves hires for Alcovy accountability courts
Summary
The board voted to accept $100,250.15 from the Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust for Superior Courts and approved one site manager and two screen-collector positions for Alcovy Judicial Circuit accountability courts, funded by the grant.
The Newton County Board of Commissioners on May 19 approved the Superior Courts’ acceptance of a Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust (G.O.A.T.) grant totaling $100,250.15 and authorized hiring to staff local accountability-court drug-testing sites.
Interim Chair Linda D. Hays presided as Commissioner Stan Edwards moved to accept the grant and Commissioner LeAnne Long seconded; the motion passed 5-0. The minutes state there is no county match required for the award.
The board also approved creation or authorization of three positions for Alcovy Judicial Circuit accountability court programs: one site manager and two screen-collector positions. The minutes list the total one-time cost for salaries and benefits at $90,964.25 and indicate the funding source as the Georgia Opioid Crisis Abatement Trust grant award. Commissioner LeAnne Long moved to approve the positions; Commissioner Andre Cooper seconded and the motion passed 5-0.
Both approvals were recorded in the minutes as routine motions with unanimous support. The minutes do not include job descriptions, hiring timetables or start dates; they identify the positions and the aggregated cost but not which county department will administer recruiting or payroll adjustments.
Votes at a glance from the May 19 meeting (selected items): • Acceptance of Georgia Opioid Abatement Trust grant ($100,250.15): passed 5-0. • Approval of one site manager and two screen-collector positions (total cost $90,964.25): passed 5-0. • Consent agenda (minutes, Walmart grant $2,000 for Fire Services, surplus of fire hoses): passed 5-0. • Resolution R051926 (initiate abandonment proceedings for portion of Paty Drive): passed 5-0. • CTP Update approval ($400,000): passed 5-0. • IGA with City of Covington ($500,000 SPLOST): passed 5-0. • FY27 Cigna plan: passed 5-0. • 2025 ad valorem tax refund to Wesley Methodist Church of Covington ($6,920.71): passed 4-0 with one abstention recorded by Commissioner LeAnne Long.
The minutes identify the grant by name and amount but do not include an award letter or contract in the body of the minutes. The board did not record public opposition or comment related to the grant or the hiring authorizations.
