12-03-2025
Opioid dollars will help fund new sheriff's office
princeton — Renovations now underway at the Mercer County Sheriff's Department headquarters were boosted Tuesday when the Mercer County Commission unanimously approved $100,000 in opioid settlement money for the project.
In March 2024, the commission approved a $1.75 million American Rescue Plan grant which allowed the sheriff's department to buy the Mercer County Professional Building which is located next door to the Mercer County Courthouse. The building once housed a bank and has been used as office space by various agencies.
The sheriff's department now operates out of the courthouse's basement, a situation which does not allow its deputies and other personnel much room for their duties.
Sheriff Alan Christian spoke Tuesday about his department's request for $100,000 in opioid settlement funds to help convert the building into its new headquarters.
County Commission President Bill Archer said that since the department's request is for opioid settlement funding, it does not impact the county's general revenue.
'I'll provide you with a quick guide to what we've got going on at the new building,' Christian told the commissioners.
'We ran into our first setback (Monday) with the building,' Christian said. 'Apparently, whoever did the renovations prior to us decided to do a big filler on some of those with sand, so it caused what you could call a 2-inch dip and we had to tear it out, go and refill it. Not a huge deal.'
The discovery showed how problems can appear unexpectedly, he said.
'When you're doing renovations, you have no idea what you're getting into,' Christian said. 'So that's why we're asking for the little extra leeway just in case.'
The sheriff's department has already saved $10,000 when buying computers from a company, he said.
'There's no reason for us to pay $500 for our monitors, so we went to save some money and we expect to do the same with this,' Christian said. 'But we just like to have it (extra funds) just in case so I'm not having to come back again and ask for more money which I will be, but I appreciate it and forever.'
The project is now in its second phase. The next phase will include getting furniture and working on the building's exterior. Christian said the department hopes to move in by July.
Christian said the department also planned to ask for Archer's help to put together an archive about past deputies.
'We're going to have a little museum, if you will, for those folks who gave their lives to this county and deserves some recognition,' Christian said.
Commissioner Greg Puckett said he had spoken with the West Virginia First Foundation, which helps manage the state's settlement from opioid manufacturers, about how future funding requests will be addressed.
'I did go through with the West Virginia First Foundation. I've got their grant application and sort of where they've gone with settlement funding from the state,' he said. 'Of course, that's in addition to what the counties actually get throughout the state. I have a resolution that looks to put together a task force team that looks at all requests. That way, there's a broad based sort of input from the community.
'This (department's request) would obviously supersede that because it's a direct need that has to do with our sheriff's department, but for all other opioid requests. I should have that memorandum set and then to start the team process soon and then grant applications would be based on the availability of funds to the community,' Puckett said.
The county now has around $2.6 million in opioid settlement funds, he said.
''We are taking those and putting those into an interest earnings account; so, for all the monies that we do have in there during this period of time, it is earning which gives us additional monies in which to work with, which is extremely valuable,' Puckett said. 'Hopefully we can get that and keep a $1.5 million minimum in there at all times.'
If the county keeps $1.5 million in the account and, based on the current interest rates the county has with New People's Bank, the county could between from $75,000 to $80,000 a year in interest income, Puckett said.
'That would give us project money to move it forward and keep that going forever and ever if all goes well,' he said.
Puckett and Commissioner Brian Blankenship supported the funding request. The request was approved unanimously.
'All that being said, I do think this is a great request because it's putting our sheriff's office in good standing, opening that up and allowing for the expansion of our sheriff's office,' Puckett said.
'I just want to say we appreciate your due diligence and everybody over there looking out where you can and how you can save,' said Blankenship. 'You know, they're doing a lot of the work themselves.'
Contact Greg Jordan at
gjordan@
