Top Stories for Dec. 4, 2024

Mecklenburg County provides this weekly rundown of top stories from the Board of County Commissioners meetings and the Public Information Department’s newsroom. The Board met on Tuesday, Dec. 3. The agenda is available online and the meeting can be viewed on MeckTV. The Board’s next budget and public policy meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10 at 2:30 p.m. 

1. New Board, New Leadership: The 2024-2026 Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners was sworn in during a ceremony on Monday, Dec. 2. The oath of office was administered by Judge Roy H. Wiggins. Following the swearing-in, the new Board elected Commissioner Mark D. Jerrell (District 4) as Chair and Commissioner Leigh Altman (At-Large) as Vice Chair. Following the leadership election, each Commissioner had the opportunity to address the community about their priorities and goals for the upcoming term. Watch the full swearing-in ceremony on MeckTV at Watch.MeckNC.gov. 

2. Order of the Hornet: The Board inducted long-time Commissioner Pat Cotham into Mecklenburg County’s Order of the Hornet. The award is the highest honor bestowed by the Board, for people who have displayed a high level of service to the residents of Mecklenburg County. Commissioner Cotham was elected at-large in 2012, her first elected office, and served on the Board until 2024. 

3. Opioid Settlement: The Board approved $5.5 million in opioid settlement funds to spend on initiatives to address high-risk populations. The money will be used to:

• Expand medication assisted treatment (MAT) services in the detention center.
• Develop reentry support services for detention center residents utilizing MAT in partnership with Alliance Health.
• Create a post overdose response team (PORT Model) in partnership with Atrium Health.
• Increase funding for Naloxone distribution.

The money is part of the national opioid settlement, from which Mecklenburg County will receive $74,854,434 over an eighteen-year period to address the opioid overdose epidemic. 

4. World Aids Day: The Board proclaimed Dec. 1 as World Aids Day in Mecklenburg County. World AIDS Day began in 1988, with organizations and individuals around the world bringing attention to the HIV epidemic, working to increase HIV awareness and knowledge, speaking out against HIV stigma, and calling for an increased response to move toward ending the HIV epidemic. Mecklenburg County has been recognized as part of the national Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative, which aims to reduce new cases nationally by 75% in five years and 90% in ten years. Public Health has also administered the Getting to Zero initiative since 2019 and works to engage with the community about HIV care, services, and prevention. 

5. Free COVID-19 Vaccinations: Public Health now has free COVID and flu vaccines available for uninsured residents. With the respiratory illness season now in full force, health officials advise that vaccinations are an important way for residents to protect themselves and their loved ones during the holiday season. Local health departments across the country have been navigating how best to source free vaccines since the end of the Bridge Access program in August. Public Health has worked with federal and state partners to secure additional vaccines for uninsured residents. Residents can schedule an appointment online or call 704-336-6500. Walk-in appointments for these vaccines are based on availability at multiple locations around the county.