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WHEELING - New legislation is being introduced before Wheeling City Council tonight to potentially distribute more than $584,000 from the city’s share of West Virginia’s opioid settlement funds to the city’s police and fire departments.
The opioid epidemic that swept the country hit impoverished areas of Appalachia and states like West Virginia particularly hard. In recent years drug manufacturers, distribution companies, pharmacies and other related firms have reached settlements with government entities that have taken legal action against them. Settlement amounts collectively have totaled tens of billions of dollars.
West Virginia has been aggressive in seeking settlements with pharmacies and other companies that played a hand in bringing highly addictive opioid drugs into its communities. The state has been distributing portions of settlement funds to participating local communities, and Wheeling is one of them.
All the money from the settlement must be used to abate the opioid crisis through efforts such as addiction treatment, recovery and prevention programs, or supporting law enforcement in anti-drug measures.
Officials from the Wheeling Police and Fire departments have submitted a number of proposals for eligible purchases and programs that can put the settlement money to good use.
According to the new ordinances up for a first reading at tonight’s Wheeling City Council meeting, the police department has requested a total of $152,438 from the opioid settlement funds, and the fire department has requested a grand total of about $431,884.
Proposed police purchases include a covert camera system, TruNarc handheld field testing device for suspected narcotics, a new utility tasked vehicle (UTV) and trailer, crisis intervention training to help first responders better understand situations when dealing with individuals suffering from auditory hallucinations, and a new police K9.
"The purchase of another drug detection canine would greatly benefit the mission of the Wheeling Police Department," wrote Corporal Jason Martin from the Wheeling Police Department in his request. "With their superior sense of smell, past and present canines have been an invaluable tool for the department in locating evidence of drug related crimes. The available funds through this settlement are a natural fit for the purchase of a police canine due to its drug enforcement and drug prevention tasks. "
According to the K9 proposal, the $20,000 amount requested would cover the cost of the purchase of an additional drug detection dog and the costs associated with the required handler training course.
For the fire department, several equipment purchases were requested to help first responders during drug-related emergencies. They include CPR training equipment and Narcan administration training equipment, controlled substances securing devices for ambulances and EMS supply storage areas, automated CPR devices, power stair chars to assist in safely moving incapacitated individuals, disinfecting equipment for ambulances, automatic external defibrillators, ballistic vests for responders and an EMS slide-in attachment for the UTV for transporting incapacitated individuals from hard-to-reach areas.
Both ordinances related to the opioid settlement fund distribution are scheduled to be introduced during tonight’s regular city council meeting, which is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at the City-County Building on Chapline Street downtown.
Also on tonight’s agenda, new legislation is being introduced to establish a $100,000 budget from the general fund to provide a source of collateral to assist applicants seeking financial assistance to aid local residents with sidewalk improvements. Property owners are responsible for maintaining sidewalks adjacent to their homes and businesses. This Home Owner-Occupied Sidewalk Repair Assistance Program will involve a local banking institution to handle loans to approved applicants. Applications will be available on or after June 1.
In other action slated for tonight’s meeting, city council will hear first readings on an ordinance authorizing the city manager to spend $35,000 with CT Consultants of Wheeling for geotechnical investigations of Grandview, Glenwood and Stackyard Slopes to be charged to the City Service Fee.
Another new ordinance will authorize the expenditure of $55,000 with Black Bear Fence Company of Triadelphia for fencing on Grandview Street to be charged to a Water Department fund, and a new ordinance up for a first reading will authorize expenditure of $16,500 with Northern Panhandle Conservation District of McMechen for the purchase of fiscal year 2025 operation and maintenance funds for Wheeling Creek Structure, with $15,000 to be charged to the city’s capital contributions and $1,500 to be charge to the city’s Coal Severance fund.
Prior to the regular council meeting tonight, members of the Finance Committee of Council are scheduled to meet at 5:15 p.m. in council chambers to review the city’s March financial report.