The City of Lumberton entered a national lawsuit aimed at recovering damages against the drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors “responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic.”
Hattiesburg and Forrest County have also joined the litigation seeking damages against the pharmaceutical companies and vendors. The Board of Aldermen voted to contract with attorneys in the lawsuit, although no taxpayer funds will be used to pay the attorneys. A percentage of the funds that come out of the lawsuit will go to the attorneys’ fees.
The lawsuit is aimed at the companies that control 85 percent of the market for prescription opioids and profited from the widespread use of the opioids.
Opioid abuse has become the leading cause of death for people younger than 50 and the total economic burden of the opioid epidemic is estimated at $78.5 billion.
In other action at Tuesday’s meeting:
Approved the Agenda for April 3 Board Meeting.
Voted to allow Linda Morrison with the Lumberton Historical Society to move forward to repair the flooring with a wood fIoor in the Museum. Cost to be absorbed entirely by the Lumberton Historical Society.
voted to allow City Clerk Merlene Wall to transfer from the WSOM account $400 to be deposited in the Water Deposit Bank Account as per the following: Sheila West $12.20, Sonny Taylor $27.30, Chakashia Holder $77.30 and WSOM $283.20. (Total $ 400).
voted to return the debit card machine to First Data.
n voted to approve Construction Change Order No. 1 in the additive amount of $43,750 for the USACE No. Section 592 Grant Program and M.D.A.-C.D.B.G Water & Sewer System Improvements Project No. 1133-16-241-PF-01 subject to M.D.A. Approval.
voted to approve cash request No. 3 in the amount of $225,605.95 ($124,659.19 for Sewer System Improvements and $100,946.76 for water system improvements work completed as of the estimate date.
voted to approve a change order to allow Western Electric to install a beacon for service at the airport with funds from the FAA grant.
voted to allow department heads to give a report to the Mayor and Board: Police Department representative Phillipe Duckworth; Wall, City Clerk; Keenon Johnson, Public Works Director; Mabel Myles, Cemetery Committee; Stanley McGowan, Parks and Recreation Committee and Chad Owen, City Inspector.
voted to allow Stanley McGowan the use of the airport on Sunday, April 8, from 2-7 p.m. to race remote control cars and fly drones, pending FAA approval.
voted to allow the use of Fifth Avenue Park only on Saturday, April 21, and Sunday, April 22, for a Day in the Park to Arthur Patton. The building is excluded.
voted to approve payroll for March in the amount of $26,383.09 {General fund} $18,669.31 {WSOM} for a total of $45,052.40.
voted to approve unpaid claims for March in the amount of $41,439.80 {General Fund} $26,097.89 {WSOM} for a Total of $67,537.69.
voted to approve paid claims for the month of March in the amount of $7,477.56 General Fund and $959.92 for a total of $8,437.48
voted to approve minutes of Regular Call Board Meeting of March 6.
voted to advertise for an audit Firm to conduct a single audit of the City of Lumberton for FYE 2016.
voted to approve refunding the following water customers their refund due to closing their accounts: Jessica Walters $45.10, Tangled Hair Salon $100, Charles Ballard $150, Jeffrey Hutchinson $150, Ebbie Rayborn $113.65, Christy Cole $78.65, Shanetta CIark $103.65 and Chakaslia Holder $77.30. Total $1,048.25 and WSOM $376.75. Total from Water Deposit Account for March $1,425.
voted to pay Custom Auto Creations $600 for striping police car.
voted to allow Affordable Emergency Lights & Service to install a prisoner partition for Gold & Black Police Car as per estimate of $255.
voted to allow Affordable Emergency Lights & Service to install a soundoff signal LED light bar at a cost of $209.74 and remove two red LED lights and replace with Manpower lights in blue, rewire control panel on unit 01 (Gold & Black Police Car) at a cost of $170 for a total of $379.74.
voted to commend Laniesha Sims, Attorney, for her exemplary service to the City of Lumberton.
voted to close meeting and go into Executive Session allowing Laneshia Sims to speak to the Mayor and Board regarding litigation, Personnel Police Department for Officer L. Alien, Applications received for Chief of Police Position for the City of Lumberton and possible litigation Cora Rogers.
