By Jessica Dillon
Martinsville City Council on March 10 approved the first reading of opioid abatement fund appropriations but decided to hold another public hearing before final approval. Council members said they needed more information about how the money would be used in the community.
Councilman Aaron Rawls expressed concern over the uncertainty.
“So fairly reckless maneuver. We don’t know. None of us really knows what we’re voting for. I know some people who were on council in the past don’t mind doing stuff like that. They don’t mind throwing away a few hundred grand without knowing what they are voting on, but I would rather know what we’re doing,” he said.
The funds come from the Virginia Opioid Abatement Authority, established through a state lawsuit against large opioid manufacturers. Participating localities, including Martinsville and surrounding counties, apply for grants for specific projects approved by the authority.
Two grants were under discussion:
Fund 75, Opioid Budget – increased $364,062 to recognize funds through the Overdose Spike Response and Harm Reduction Access Grant.
Fund 72, Opioid Budget – increased $28,325.66 for the Kinship Navigator Position–Henry-Martinsville Social Services Grant.
The city acts as a conduit for the money, ensuring approved organizations receive their grants. Council referred to the approved groups as “gold standard,” meaning they met the authority’s criteria.
The Virginia Harm Reduction Coalition (VHRC), which works with those affected by addiction, said the hold on first reading could delay hiring a new staff member and push back programs by at least two weeks, depending on the outcome of the next council meeting.
Resident Kimberly Parker asked if the funds would actually benefit the local community. City Manager Rob Fincher said they would. “Yes, it is. That was the reason for doing it regionally, so the organizations in those regions could apply for the grants. The money was divided among the regions and distributed based on their awards,” he said.
Mary Reeves Brown also expressed concern about transparency. “I think the community has lost a lot of the information or has never gotten it in a meaningful way,” she said. “What if there’s a way to get some of the opioid information online? So maybe reference it on the city website so we can see the history of it, where it’s going, and the objectives. Otherwise, it’s easy to lose sight of it.”
Former council member Jennifer Bowles urged moving forward while maintaining accountability. “You can vote on it for first reading, and then when you receive the documentation, you can determine whether it’s appropriate,” she said. “That way you can keep moving forward while still being accountable to the citizens.”
Several citizens also spoke about ongoing council conflicts. Malvester Dixon criticized the suspension of Mayor LC Jones, while Patti Covington defended it. “The process is being followed by the letter of the law,” she said.
New resident Kellie Kuiken asked that a recent audit be fully released and reminded citizens they could request it via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
In other matters, the council:
*Approved Ordinance No. 2026-2 on second reading for right-of-way abandonment
*Considered Appropriations Ordinance 2026-3 on second reading
*Discussed Ordinance 2026-4 codifying previous zoning amendments
*Conveyed Housing Authority property at 104 and 106 Sycamore Street to West Piedmont Planning District Commission
*Recognized Women’s History Month.
Several women from the city’s workforce accept recognition during Women’s History Month at Martinsville City Council.
