Dougherty Commission OKs opioid legal representation

ALBANY — In addition to hearing from several community members about the decision to deny interim Dougherty County Administrator Michael McCoy the permanent administrator position Monday, the Dougherty County Commission selected a legal representative in a national class-action opioid lawsuit.

Blasingame, Burch, Garrard & Ashley PC from Athens, which partnered with Albany firm Flynn & Phillips in a representation proposal sent to the commission, was selected to represent the county by a 6-1 vote in a suit that will go into the federal court system, specifically to the Northern District of Ohio.

County Attorney Spencer Lee commented Monday on all five proposals presented at the commission’s meeting last week, stating he thought all of the law firms are qualified. The suit, he said, would be based on the allegation that drug manufacturers and distributors deceived the federal government — and that certain guidelines set in place are not followed.

He added that conversations would need to take place with individuals such as Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler, Dougherty County Sheriff Kevin Sproul as well as entities including Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital to determine how much of their resources have been spent on the crisis to get an idea of what the damages the county would seek.

Lee also noted that there would be no expenditures unless there is a recovery, the money from which would go into the county’s general fund.

Commission Chairman Chris Cohilas, himself an attorney, noted in response to a question from Commissioner Gloria Gaines that an attorney’s commodity is time, so it is unlikely the law firms that sent in proposals and made presentations to the commission at its March 26 meeting would have done so if they did not believe there would be a high-dollar figure in terms of recovery.

“They are probably thinking far, far north of $10 million, and I’m saying that conservatively,” Cohilas said.

Gaines cast the single no vote.

The commission also unanimously:

— OK’d the purchases of a pair of 2018 four-door F150 4×4 pickups with running boards for the county’s landfill and for the Public Works department from Sunbelt Ford Town in the amount of $29,827.16 each;

— Approved the purchase of computer and scanning equipment for the county’s Tax and Tag department in the amount of $20,360.60 for an upgrade required by the Georgia Department of Revenue for a new tag and titling system known as DRIVES;

— Declared a 2016 Ford Police Interceptor from the Dougherty County Police Department as surplus and authorized the sale through Underwriters Safety and Claims after its recent involvement in an accident on U.S. Highway 19 and Nelms Road;

— Signed off on a resolution providing for the amendment of the Zoning Ordinance to Title III, Article 1, Section 1.44: Solar Energy Systems, specifically to the “Ground Mounted Systems” and “Solar Energy Facilities” sections of the Albany Dougherty Zoning Ordinance.

Cohilas gave an update on the conversations that have been ongoing with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the help of consultant Cornerstone Government Affairs, on disaster recovery funding. He said last month that officials might be looking at a spending package around $90 to $100 billion — stating Monday that it is possible the county might not get a dime.

The chairman said word should come back by close of business on Monday.

The commission is also considering which dates to plan its annual retreat. The tentative plan is to hold the retreat April 19-20 at the Courtyard Marriott Riverfront in Columbus. The dates of May 10-11 and May 14-15 are also being considered.

Jennifer Parks