Putnam is among the numerous counties which have received cash from settlements from pharmaceutical suppliers whose distribution practices contributed to opioid abuse in West Virginia. Up until last week, the Putnam County Commission had utilized a good portion of these settlements to fund law enforcement and emergency services, agencies tasked with responding to incidents arising from the opioid epidemic. At its November 7 meeting, the commission directed one fourth of it remaining settlement funds to be used to support an effort to reduce opioid overdoses.

The commission voted to provide $250,000 to Marshall University’s School of Medicine which is pursuing a federal grant that requires a 2 to 1 match. Dr. Adam Franks of the medical school said Marshall Health’s Health Care Rewards to Achieve Improved Outcomes (HEROES) Program application targets reducing opioid abuse in a 10-county area. Over a three-year period, $45 million ($15 million in grants and $30 million in matching funds) could be directed to abuse reduction.

In other business, The commission approved assessing the property owner of 124 Hanning Drive in Poca with a $100 per day fine until such time as the property complies with DAEA Board requirements.

The commission approved four separate annexations which will add about 47 acres to the corporate limits of the City of Hurricane. Most of the acreage (42.4 acres) is located in Culloden at the construction site of the I-64 interchange. The owners of each parcel asked that their property be annexed by the city.

The commission also approved the appointment of Drew Pack to the DAEA Board.

The next scheduled meeting of the county commission is November 26, 2024 at 5:00 pm.