News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Upper Cumberland mayors frustrated Wednesday after a state presentation regarding opioid abatement money spending.
State official Mary Shelton tried to answer leader’s questions during the UCDD Executive Committee meeting. Smith County Mayor Jeff Mason said the state is causing unnecessary problems at the local level.
“The state doesn’t know what they are doing, but they have to get the money out ,” Mason said. “If they would have waited and built their program, it would have been a lot easier on us. Wait two years and do it right. If we take out time and step back and figure this out, we might be able to fix this problem.”
Financial reporting, the time frame of spending and the number of parties among the problems expressed by mayors. Clay County Mayor Dale Reagan said he has received at least six pieces of correspondence from different people.
Leaders will have the opportunity to ask direct questions to the Attorney General on February 27th through a community forum. Cumberland County Mayor Allen Foster said his main concern is spending the money before the four year deadline.
