Monday, Oct. 6, the Carroll County Board of Supervisors held their regularly scheduled beginning of the month meeting. During this meeting, the Board discussed a multitude of business topics including the J.Z. George gymnasium, contracting for a new building at the Carroll County Regional Correctional Facility, and county opioid settlement funds. The details of the meeting are as follows.
As the first major matter of business for the Oct. 6 meeting, North Carrollton Mayor and Carroll County Emergency Management Director Ken Strachan approached the Board with an issue regarding the J.Z. George gymnasium. This is an ongoing matter of business which has been highly discussed over the past few months between the county’s Board of Supervisors and school district. The matter is regarding the use of the J.Z. George gymnasium as a disaster recovery center for the county during times of need. During the current meeting, EMA Director Strachan requested the Board’s opinions on getting on the agenda for a school district meeting to offer the district an opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions on the matter.
Regarding the recent agreement made with the Town of Carrollton to utilize the Community House, Strachan commented on the matter, stating, “I met with MEMA and we met with Pam [Lee] and we went through and it [the community house] passed everything. And I appreciate it. Like I said, we had that September 30th deadline to get something nailed down - but the school wanted us to talk some more - which we can, then we can see maybe what we can work out with them.”
“I think it would be good if we could use both,” Strachan added.
He went on to add that it is important in times of disaster to have multiple satellite locations to localize recovery efforts to each community in the county. Following Strachan’s comments, Board Clerk Casey Carpenter noted that part of the issue with the use of the J.Z. George Gym may be the requirement for the School Board to take out an insurance policy for the facility specifically for it to be utilized in disaster recovery efforts. Clerk Carpenter explained that this may be a financial strain on the school system and suggested that the Board look into the legality of reimbursement for the district. Ultimately the Board was in support of having EMA Director Strachan meet with the school district to further discuss the contract.
For the final major matter discussed during this meeting, the Board was addressed by Deputy Banks Tucker of the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Tucker appeared before the Board to relay a request made by Sheriff Clint Walker for the Board to move money from the Opioid Settlement Fund to the Officer Safety Fund.
“Sheriff’s asking to move the opioid settlement money to the Officer Safety Fund so that we can use that for sending officers to training for the opioid crisis [classes], and getting the equipment for that. I know over the last eight years since I’ve been here we’ve had countless saves by the Sheriff’s Department using Narcan and stuff like that for opioid overdoses,” Deputy Tucker stated.
He went on to explain that the Sheriff’s Department responds to all opioid overdose emergencies in the county due to the strain of area coverage on the local ambulance service. He added that the funds would be utilized to purchase necessary equipment to prevent opioid overdoses and employ lifesaving measures. After Deputy Tucker’s notes, the Board discussed the current amount of opioid settlement money. According to Board Clerk Carpenter, the current fund is sitting at roughly $8,700 in settlement funds. However, he explained that the awarded amount of settlement funds to the county varies yearly.
In addition, Clerk Carpenter explained that legally the Board is required to place all opioid settlement funds into the general fund prior to any of the money being distributed to other funds or it being spent. He also stated that the usage of the money must be meticulously recorded, with all expenses requiring receipts. Ultimately, the Board did not take any action on this subject as it was moved to be discussed at the next meeting.
In other news the Board:
• Approved the minutes for September 2, 3, 12, 19 and 29, 2025.
• Agreed to repair a fence on County Road 31 in the amount of $800.
• Heard from Jimmie Moore with Meridian Waste.
• Accepted the low bid from Double S Inc. in the amount of $1,328,782.30 for work on project SAP-08(9)M.
• Approved to junk and sell one 2005 Dump Truck from Beat 4 and one Low Boy Trailer and one GMC Truck from Beat 2.
• Approved to repair CR 41, in Beat 2, tornado damage with the estimated cost of $122,030 using 12/month bids.
• Agreed to pay the county credit card bill in the amount of $1,557.12.
• Approved the spread of the following items to the minutes: Board Clerk Casey Carpenter presented the Board with the Comparative Budget for September 2025, a letter from the Department of Revenue for Carroll County not to expend the one mill due to audit rolls being incomplete at this time, Casey Carpenter sent Bank of Commerce an email setting the money market interest rate at 3.5 percent, it is noted that the rate may fluctuate each month, a record of the CCRCF September 2025 meal report, a record of the MEMA Accessibility Checklist, a letter from MDAH approving the interior and exterior painting plans, and a copy of the county inventory was filed with the Board Clerk and sent to the State Auditor’s Office.
• Accepted the Docket of Claims.
• Agreed to recess until Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. in the Vaiden Courthouse for a special called meeting.
