Mason County Commission hears update on grant aimed towards fighting opioid addiction
The Mason County Commission distributed fire protection funds to multiple departments. Pictured left-right, standing, Stephen Holley from the Flatrock VFD, Steve Cavender from the Point Pleasant VFD, and Fred Higginbotham from the Leon VFD. Seated, Commissioners Chris Johnson, Rick Handley, and Sam Nibert.
The commission was visited by Dr. Adam Franks from the Marshall Health Network.
POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. (WV News) — The Mason County Commission convened Thursday for a regular meeting, hearing updates from visitors and county officials, and voting on key measures.
In attendance were Commission President Rick Handley, along with commissioners Sam Nibert and Chris Johnson. Also present were County Clerk Diana Cromley and County Administrator Jason Bechtle.
Dr. Adam Franks, chairman of the department of family and community health at Marshall Health Network, visited the commission to update them on $30 million in funding that has been collected to apply for an additional grant of $15 million to fight the opioid epidemic.
Franks explained that the grant will be put towards the creation of a regional opioid treatment initiative, called Addiction Continuum of Care for Optimal Regional Navigation, or ACCORN.
The initiative’s goal would be to establish a comprehensive care system to combat, prevent, and treat drug addiction in 10 of the state’s most affected counties.
Franks had previously presented the plan to 10 county commissions as part of an appeal to raise $30 million in community support. Franks told the commission he is confident the grant application will be successful.
If successfully implemented, the initiative will focus on prevention, peer recovery support, early and low-barrier intervention, treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and employment support.
Additionally, Franks said there are good programs that already exist in the selected counties to combat the opioid epidemic, and that the new initiative would be utilized to enhance the strengths of those programs.
The commission announced that it will be distributing $8,115 in fire protection funds to all six county fire departments. Stephen Holley from the Flatrock VFD, the Point Pleasant VFD’s Steve Cavender, and Fred Higginbotham from the Leon VFD, all visited the commission to collect the checks for their respective departments. The commission will be sending checks to the departments of New Haven and Mason, and Apple Grove’s Valley Fire and Rescue.
The funds are derived from a levy passed two years to distribute $106,000 annually to fire and EMS services. Additionally, a portion of the funding is shared with the Public Service District for the placement of new fire hydrants within the county.
The commission agreed to increase the annual salaries of EMS Director Jeremy Bryant by $5,000, and Litter Control Officer Steve Cavender by $1,200. The commission also approved two new EMS hires, and three status changes.
Bechtle informed the commission that Don Linger will be retiring from his position on the Dilapidated Properties Board. The commission agreed to appoint Randy Searles to the board to fill the vacancy.
Johnson accepted an appointment to the Workforce Development Board.
Minutes from the previous meeting, applications for corrections of erroneous assessment, wills and estates, and bills and purchase orders were all approved by the commission.
