By JONATHAN SNYDER
Two organizations helping people with addiction received opioid settlement funding from Bluffton’s Common Council on Tuesday.
Tri-Recovery, an organization that focuses on the biological side of addiction recovery, received $4,000 and Renovate Counseling Services received $5,000.
Tri-Recovery founder Andy Yergler, along with Craig Mickey and Doug Johnson, started the organization as a way to encourage others to adopt a healthier lifestyle in order to aid in their recovery. Tri-Recovery meets every Sunday at the pavilion by Hardee’s and the group holds many different events for all skill levels for endurance sports.
Yergler sees the money being used for a voucher system, where dedication to getting better can lead to a free pair of running shoes. Tri-Recovery also will use the money to help kids of parents who are struggling with addiction by paying for football cleats or tennis rackets to keep them engaged in a healthy lifestyle.
Renovate is looking to start a weekly class and group meeting for individuals in various recovery stages. The class would be led by one or two therapists with significant experience and is designed to be completed in 12-16 weeks. Lane Sanders clarified that people can join the program at any time.
“People in recovery try to commit as much as they can,” Sanders said. “If they are finding meetings on a daily basis they perform better.”
The Common Council also approved nine CF1 forms from Star Engineering for different machines involved in its tax abatement. These forms include various equipment items such as vertical and horizontal milling centers, while noting the increased number of jobs the new machines will provide. Elwell described the forms as the DNA profile and the official accounting of the tax abatement.
Star’s tax abatement will be spread over four years, with the first three at a 100% abatement, and the final year at 85%.
The Bluffton Redevelopment Commission also had business during the allotted time for the council. The Redevelopment Commission passed a resolution allowing them to enter negotiations for purchasing a 69.995-acre parcel near the intersection of Lancaster and Adams Street, according to Council member Josh Hunt. City Attorney Tony Crowell also stated that the owners are willing to sell and go down this route with the redevelopment commission, which has more flexibility in negotiations than what the city would have.
“We want to take more direct steps to protect the financial interests of constituents,” council member Chandler Gerber said. “We (the council) is working to protect economic activity here.”
In addition to the resolution, the Redevelopment Commission also looked at a report from Baker Tilly that listed all of the businesses in the tax increment finance district. The report looked at debts and revenues that are involved with those businesses.
jonathan@news-banner.com
