Here’s the scene from the April meeting of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners. (PJ Ward-Brown/Randolph Record)
ASHEBORO — The Randolph County Board of Commissioners has approved another round of opioid settlement funding.
At its meeting Monday, the board approved the allocation of $1.9 million in opioid settlement funding to eight different entities.
“In 2023, the board approved the county’s first round of opioid settlement fund applications with the funding allocated for three years,” said William Johnson, assistant county manager. “The expectation was to accept a new round of funding applications in 2026, so here we are.”
Those receiving funding include:
- Adult Day Reporting ($150,000)
- Bloom Therapeutics ($150,000)
- Juvenile Day Reporting ($150,000)
- Keaton’s Place ($450,000)
- Path of Hope ($150,000)
- Randolph County Detention Center ($450,000)
- Randolph County Emergency Services ($150,000)
- Community Hope Alliance ($150,000)
- Randolph County Public Libraries ($150,000)
The funding will be utilized for things such as diversion, intervention and recovery programs, naloxone and recovery housing.
The source for the funding comes from a $1.4 billion settlement paid out to the state by pharmaceutical companies for their role in the opioid epidemic. Randolph County’s portion is around $10 million and will be paid out across 18 years. The money must be used for opioid recovery related items.
“These are reimbursements and these nonprofits are also audited,” Frye said.
Johnson said since 2023, the number of 911 calls involving opioid issues have declined by 50% and overdose deaths in the county have been reduced by 75%.
Water-related resolution
The board also approved a resolution in support of the Piedmont Triad Regional Water Authority.
“There’s been a regional effort recently, especially to promote wastewater treatment as a region which gives more control, more spread, is less costly and is likely to generate more funds from state/federal government as well,” commissioners board chairman Darrell Frye said.
In addition, the board approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Asheboro for the strengthening of water and sewer infrastructure utilizing state-appropriated funding.
Specifically, the agreement assigns responsibility for public water to be connected to eastern Randolph County via new and upsized water lines and for public water and sewer systems in the Seagrove area to be made more sustainable with infrastructure investments and management oversight.
“These are investments to improve access to and the capacity of water and sewer systems and to strengthen our municipal partners’ water and sewer utilities,” county manager Zeb Holden said. “The agreement realizes a partnership and establishes responsibilities for Randolph County and the City of Asheboro.”
Ambulance to be replaced
Finally, the board approved the purchase of a replacement ambulance for approximately $260,000 to replace a totaled ambulance that was lost in January.
Larry Hicks Jr., special operations officer, said the insurance on the vehicle paid out $1,000 less than the cost for the replacement.
Hicks also stated that the vehicle should be ready to go within a month and that it will bring the emergency services ambulance fleet back up to seven.
The Randolph County Board of Commissioners will next meet May 4.
