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In the Butler County Commission meeting held Jan. 10, the commission voted 3-1 to approve a healthcare benefits package offered for employees of the county who retired at the age of 55 with 10 years of service. 

The majority of the commission sought to amend this policy so that it would be retroactive back to June 1, 2022.

Commissioners Rebecca Butts, Jesse McWilliams, and Joey Peavy all voted in favor, while Commissioner Darrell Sanders voted against it. Commissioner Allin Whittle was not in attendance for this vote.

Butler County Sheriff Danny Bond addressed the commission and spoke of the needed upkeep at the jail.

Butler County recently received a grant through public health for repairs and other necessities of the Sheriff’s Department.

“It’s about a $250,000 grant,” Sheriff Bond told the commission.

 Kay Lightfoot, County Administrator, explained the type of grant Butler County received.

“This is not a matching grant,” Lightfoot said. “We pay it, and they reimburse us.”

Rosie Till, the new Emergency Management Agency Director, delivered a report to the commission regarding the extreme cold weather impacting the county in December.

She told the assembly Greenville had its first ever warming stations set up for the homeless and those in need of heat.

“Thank God, we didn’t have to use them,” Till said.

Till added she has started classes that will enable her to get certification within her job. This will allow the EMA to receive reimbursements form the governing agencies that aid the county in emergencies.

“We’re moving forward at this point,” Till said.

Butler County also received money for training classes in the area of opioids and overdoses.

Lightfoot said Butler County had received $40,000 toward this epidemic.

“We can buy the overdose drug Narcan for the deputies to carry,” Lightfoot said.

During a discussion between commissioners and the sheriff, It was noted anywhere in the country where there has been a heroin problem, the problem anymore it’s Fentanyl.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid drug, is reported to be 50-100 times stronger than morphine, according to the DEA.

“It can be in various forms; powder, pills, and patches,” Bond said.

Bond added the grant money will allow Butler County to stay one step ahead of the problem.