By Nathan Prewett, For the Tribune
LEEDS – During a short meeting on Monday, Aug. 22, the Moody City Council passed two resolutions authorizing them to enter into settlements related to what was called the “opioid crisis.”
Moody joins other municipalities in settlements against the Janssen and McKesson pharmaceutical companies in regard to the manufacture of opioids.
“There is, and has been, a tremendous problem, not just in the city of Moody but nationwide, with the distribution of opioids,” said City Attorney James Hill. “Certainly, our fire personnel, our police personnel, have spoken to this fact.”
Hill said the final numbers of the amount of money from the settlements had not been determined yet.
“This will not be enough money to come close to the out-of-pocket costs that opioids have cost the city of Moody from a personnel perspective and from an equipment perspective, but the reality is that these funds are available, and we will have to use them for these purposes,” he continued.
Hill said the funds can be used to offset the costs of the D.A.R.E. program and be used for SRO officers at the schools.
In other business the council:
- Approved Police Chief Thomas Hunt’s request to make a payment to Virtual Academy for online training for $636,
- Approved Hunt’s request to advertise yearly part-time SRO Officer post to be renewed for the next fiscal year,
- Approved a request by Court Clerk Magistrate Tim Senft for him and Sheri Green to attend AMCCMA Annual Training Conference for a cost not to exceed $3,680 in which $1,680 is paid by Judicial Admin Fund for conference fees and travel and $2,000 is paid by the city for lodging and food,
- Approved Senft’s request to renew service contract, maintenance agreement and software updates for Guardian Device (a fingerprint machine) for $1,944,
- Approved a request by Fire Chief Larry Horton to renew the yearly contract of alarm monitoring at the Fir Pumps for $540,
- Approved Horton’s request to have Yearly Service done on the two diesel engines at the Fire Pumps to include replacing all belts, hoses, and piping. Vendor: Automatic Fire Systems, Cost: $3,708.00,
- Approved Horton’s request to renew the yearly subscription to Up Codes for the inspections division for $396,
- Approved Horton’s request to purchase wireless radio Headsets for each of the frontline apparatus for $14.158.89,
- Approved Horton’s request to have the front brakes on E-1 and the Primer Pump on E-2 repaired for $1,200,
- Approved Horton’s request to purchase winter ware uniform items for $1,100,
- Approved Library Director Patsy Spradley’s request to renew the Overdrive subscription for the e-book database for $3,000,
- Approved a request by Parks and Recreation Director Mike Staggs for the repair and maintenance of a Kubota Z-Turn for $1,200,
- Approved a request by Councilwoman Linda Crowe to register with Grant Watch for $200, and
- Hired an employee for the Senior Center for $10 per hour.
To contact Nathan Prewett, send an email to nthomasp6@gmail.com.