County joins opioid class action suit

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SIDNEY — The Shelby County commissioners recently voted to join a class action lawsuit against manufacturers and distributors of prescription opiates.

The suit includes plaintiffs in four states and has been filed in the Cleveland court system, according to Commissioner Tony Bornhorst.

“The commissioners were a little hesitant tojump on the bandwagon because on of the distributors is in Ohio. That could affect jobs. Bu as thing progressed and you look at the data in Ohio, it’s overwhelming,” he said. “Every man, woman and child in Ohio is consuming 141 prescription opiate pills annually. When you think that some of us are not taking any at all, that’s a staggering amount.”

Bornhorst noted that the suit could result in a settlement that might bring some money to Shelby County.

“I’m not a fan of the lawsuit, but our taxpayers deserve some omney if there’s a settlement. We ae spending money on the opioid crisis,” he said.

In other recent business, the commissioners:

• Signed two contracts recently for grants in support of the construction of the Sheriff’s Treatment and Recovery (STAR) House. The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health Services each awarded $400,000 to the project.

• Awarded the 2018 roadside mowing contract in the amount of $76,584.96 to Quick Mow Inc., of Millersburg.

• Adopted a resolution supporting Ohio House Bill 163 and Senate Bill 72 to exempt political subdivisions from the requirements of the prevailing wage law.

• Contracted with Freytag & Associates Inc. to provide architectural/engineering services for partial roof restoration at the Shelby County Jail.

• Extended the bid-opening date for bids for the Fair Haven addition communications/technology project to April 5 at 2 p.m.

• Accepted all submitted bids for aggregate stone, bituminous and asphalt material.

• Requested bids for a sanitary sewer extension project along Gearhart Road, for the 2018 resurfacing program, for a county Road 25A bridge rehabilitation project and for a Wones Road bridge replacement project. The bids are to be opened April 24, April 26, May 1 and April 24, respectively, all at 11 a.m.

• Authorized Sewer District Director Tyler Shuster to prepare and inflow and infiltration policy.

• Set a viewing for April 10 at 11 a.m. and a hearing for April 17 at 9 a.m. concerting a petition to vacate a portion of Road 1048 and a portion of East Lane in Loramie Township.

• Re-appointed Ian Ridgeway to serve on the Ohio Children’s Trust Fund Western Ohio Regional Prevention Council.

• Approved the annexation of 50 acres to the village of Jackson Center.

By Patricia Ann Speelman

[email protected]

Reach the writer at 937-538-4824.

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