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Martin County holds annual opioid settlement meeting; municipalities urge MAT, detox and overdose response
Summary
At a required April 9 meeting, municipal leaders urged Martin County to prioritize medication-assisted treatment, detox and post-overdose response teams with opioid settlement funds; county officials said the money is limited and must follow strict allowable-use and reporting rules.
Chairman Joe R. Ayers opened Martin County’s special Opioid Litigation meeting on April 9 and read the Opioid Settlement Memorandum of Agreement requirement that counties hold at least one annual meeting with municipalities to seek input on uses of settlement funds: "4. Annual meeting of counties and municipalities within each county. Each county receiving Opioid Settlement Funds shall hold at least one annual meeting with all municipalities in the local government's county invited in order to receive input as to proposed uses of the Opioid Settlement Funds and to encourage collaboration between local governments both within and beyond the county. These meetings shall be open to the public," Ayers read.
Municipal leaders and their representatives used the meeting to urge treatment, prevention and rapid-response uses for Martin County’s share. Charlotte Griffin, mayor of Bear Grass, said local committee meetings had reviewed possible uses and cautioned that the county’s allotment was modest: "it equaled $18,500.00 a year," she said, and the payments decline over time, so strategies must prioritize programs that serve the most people. Jonathan Russell, town administrator for Robersonville, said he agreed the funds were insufficient but noted improvements made so far with opioid funding. Ervin Williams, mayor of Hamilton, said his town was pleased to see forward movement in addressing the issue.
Michelle Sledge, mayor of Hassell, did not attend but submitted a written recommendation read aloud by County Manager Drew Batts urging a coordinated strategy: "Provide MAT (medication assisted treatment) Detox, outpatient and inpatient programs; Post Overdose Response Teams; Youth & Adult Drug Prevention Education Programs," the letter said. Batts told the board the Martin Tyrrell Washington (MTW) Health Department already has strategies in place that include MAT, detox and post-overdose response activities, and that Emergency Management staff had been equipped with Narcan using a portion of the funds.
No formal spending decisions were made at the meeting. County officials emphasized that all proposed uses must fit the MOA’s allowable-use definitions and that agencies submitting program plans must follow detailed reporting requirements. The meeting concluded without votes on specific allocations; the board adjourned at 3:19 p.m.
