BY HANNAH LESTER
HLESTER@OPELIKAOBSERVER.COM
LEE COUNTY —
Construction in Beulah will lead to a new track and field facility soon.
The Lee County Commission voted to approve a relocation of part of Lee Road 373 Monday night in preparation of constructing the new facility.
“The Lee County Board of Education has requested assistance from the Highway Department in relocating a portion of Lee Road 373 which runs through their property adjacent to Beulah High School,” said a memorandum from County Engineer Justin Hardee to the commission. “They wish to construct a new track and field facility on their property.”
Hardee said the board will pay for out-of-pocket costs for the relocation, but the county would provide labor and equipment.
“The Highway Department has looked at this,” Hardee said. “It will take one of our crews approximately a week with good weather for us to construct this; in that this is a dirt road and not a paved road, it should go more quickly.”
There will actually be two tracks constructed — one for Loachapoka, one for Beulah.
LEE COUNTY LITIGATION
District 2 Commissioner Ross Morris made a motion to add an item to the agenda — allowing Christina Crowe to speak on the opioid crisis and litigation Lee County could benefit from.
“You may recall that I was here about six months ago with the Attorney General’s Office when the attorney general was able to settle the opioid litigation against Johnson and Johnson (J&J) and McKesson for the entire state,” she said. “Since that time, they have reached a settlement with Walmart and also decided to participate in national settlements with Allergan, Teva, Walgreens and CVS.
“When you voted to approve Judge English signing the settlement paperwork for J&J and McKesson, there were no funds available for Lee County because Lee County chose not to participate in the litigation several years ago when it started. However, with the Walmart settlement, we have crafted a way to have non-litigating entities participate in receiving settlement funds if you choose to do so.”
The Walmart settlement is $38.7 million and Lee County can approximately receive up to $76,000. The money can only be used for specific things, Crowe said, related to “abatement of the opioid crisis.”
The county not only voted to participate but Morris also suggested the county join other litigation efforts to receive more money for the county.
Crowe said she could not provide a number Lee County would receive from these settlements.
“I don’t know why we would not participate and miss out on settlement funds when this opioid crisis is here in Lee County as well as everywhere,” Morris said.
The motion was approved.
OTHER BUSINESS:
– The commission adopted the updated Building and Administration Code.
– The commission heard the second reading of two positions on the Loachapoka Water Authority Board.
– The commission heard the second reading of two positions on the Smiths Water and Authority Board.
– The commission heard the second reading of two positions on the Lee County Alternative Sentencing Board.
– The commission heard the first reading for one position on the Beauregard Water and Authority Board.
– The commission heard a request from Fabien Smith for an appeal of a county risk services denial of claim. The commission informed him they would do more research.
– The commission approved an intergovernmental support agreement with the U.S. Army.
– The commission approved a restaurant retail liquor application for San Miguel Mexican Cuisine.
– The commission approved the result of bid No. 2023-07 for a passenger van for the coroner’s office.
– The commission approved the result of bid No. 2023-08 for two new 2023 three-quarter ton crew cab pickups.
