Commissioners tackle several issues at Aug. 4 meeting

ASHEBORO — Randolph County commissioners agreed to pursue the next rollout of opioid settlement money. Among other business at their regular meeting on Aug. 4, they formed a new school resource officer (SRO) position and approved the Agricultural Center’s standard operating procedure.

Continued opioid settlements

Associate County Attorney Aimee Scotton previewed “Wave 3” of opioid settlement funding. These two settlements with pharmaceutical companies and opioid manufacturers are still being finalized on the federal level.

The Secondary Opioid Manufacturer Settlements may total around $720 million from nine defendants. Scotton said Randolph County will only qualify for money from eight, as one of the entities does not do business in the area.

The Purdue Pharma Bankruptcy and Sackler Settlement may total approximately $7.4 billion.

Commissioners voted unanimously to opt in. Scotton said it is too early to know how much Randolph County is eligible for, but it would be paid out by the different defendants over 1 to 15 years.

Agricultural Center procedures

Commissioners approved the new standard operating procedure and fees for the upcoming Agriculture Center. Taylor Wright, the center coordinator, said the rental fee schedule has not changed from the draft she presented at the July meeting, but additional fees may be customized based on the amount of people and time needed for set-up and tear-down.

Wright said the center also approved allowing gun and knives for trade shows, auctions and sales, but as with all county buildings, concealed weapons are not permitted.

Commissioners Kenny Kidd and Lester Rivenbark asked about the flexibility of the catering policy, which requires groups use vendors on an approved list. They used the North Carolina Livestock Association’s cookouts as an example. Wright explained that there are regulations against serving home-cooked food to the public, but organization potlucks and similar events may be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Department requests

■ Chief Deputy Steven Nunn brought forth the request for an SRO for Faith Christian School in Ramseur. The position will cost $75,809 for the first 10 months. The school will cover $65,529 spent on work from September to May.

Commissioner David Allen asked whether they could fill the position, given, he said, “officers are at a premium now.” Nunn said they already have someone interested.

The commissioners approved the SRO position along with a request for new body cameras and patrol car cameras costing $63,878. Nunn said the money comes from law enforcement restricted funds.

■ Floyd Johnson, the new executive director of Randolph Senior Adults Association (RSAA), presented a new Home and Community Care Block Grant contract through June 30, 2028.

The grant will help fund adult day care, congregate nutrition, home delivered meals, information and options for counseling and transportation, in-home aid, and housing and home improvement projects. It is divided into $677,711 for RSAA and $308,732 for Regional Consolidated Services.

■ At the request of Rivenbark, the commissioners approved the encumbrance carryforwards separate from the rest of the consent agenda. Encumbrance carryforwards are the transfer of funds budgeted but not spent by the end of the last fiscal year. Rivenbark said as a new commissioner, he wanted to hear more about how those are used.

County Manager Zeb Holden used law enforcement as an example, as they sometimes have new vehicle purchases get backed up into another fiscal year. He said the policy helps departments allocate their budgets wisely.

He said, “The department heads — and we’ve had some department heads who came from the state of North Carolina, and their policy is spend it or you lose it. If we didn’t have this policy to help folks be mindful over the year, they’d be spending it for fear of losing it. A lot more would be spent at the end of the year, and probably not things that were needed because they were rushed.”

Rivenbark said, “It’s good that we have this conversation. We have departments saving money over the year, and they do have money left over.”

Special recognitions

Deputy Sabrina Honeycutt was honored for her retirement from the sheriff’s office this month. Sheriff Greg Seabolt specifically mentioned her years in the community-based programs division and as an SRO in the Archdale-Trinity area.

Honeycutt thanked her supervisors and the community. She said, “It’s hard for me to say goodbye, but I know it’s time to let the younger generation take my place. I’m going to sit back and pray for them as they do the job that I did. I’m still going to reach out to the community, say, ‘Hey,’ a few times, help out with the school system, reach out to the kids I see in the community. I’m still around.”