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• <br /> ► w� <br /> • <br /> LEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> MCSWAIN EXTENSION EDUCATION AND AGRICULTURE CENTER <br /> 2420 TRAMWAY ROAD <br /> SANFORD, NC 27330 <br /> January 27, 2023 <br /> MINUTES <br /> Roll Call <br /> Present: Dr. Andre Knecht, Robert Reives, Cameron Sharpe, Kirk Smith, Bill Carver, <br /> Mark Lovick, Taylor Vorbeck <br /> CALL TO ORDER - 8:30AM <br /> Chairman Kirk Smith called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. <br /> OPIOID SETTLEMENT FUNDS DISCUSSION - 8:30AM <br /> Opioid Settlement Funds Discussion <br /> County Attorney Whitney Parrish reviewed a PowerPoint presentation that is attached <br /> and incorporated into these minutes. Lee County will receive $4.2 million in settlement <br /> funds over eighteen years. The County has received two payments so far but has not <br /> allocated or distributed funds yet. The Board of Commissioners will determine how to <br /> spend the opioid settlement funds. A subcommittee of Project Lazarus will consider <br /> community needs and make recommendations to the Board. County Manager Dr. <br /> Crumpton said some counties have already contracted with third party providers and he <br /> expects FirstHealth to make a proposal to Lee County. Another settlement was made for <br /> $600 million and we will receive a portion of that. Dr. Crumpton suggested that we might <br /> have enough money to hire someone to guide us. He noted that the County does have a <br /> willing partner in Moore County to do some kind of collaboration with both counties' <br /> funds. Ms. Parrish said the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners does <br /> have staff to help with planning. Some of the City of Sanford appointees on Project <br /> Lazarus are also on the City's opioid taskforce. Dr. Crumpton hopes some of the <br /> Medicaid expansion money could be used for this project as well. <br /> Roxanne Elliot from FirstHealth arrived at 9:45 a.m. to discuss Sandhills Opioid <br /> Response Consortium's current work, including referral cards, harm reduction kits, <br /> Narcan kits, safe syringe programs and the provision of peer support specialists in our <br /> area. They currently have funding for treatment referrals which will end in June. She has <br /> resources for school programs to address drug use and training for law enforcement for <br /> Narcan use. They also have a Rapid Response Team that can respond within 24 hours. <br />