After the Scott County Commissioners voted earlier this year to end a needle exchange program in the county claiming it enabled and encouraged drug use, the City of Austin will consider offering their own program citing public health issues to help prevent the spread of hepatitis C and HIV within the community.
Scott County was the epicenter of the Hep-C and HIV epidemic as a result of drug users sharing needles. A county-wide needle exchange program was helping to tamp down the spread of the blood borne diseases.
A public hearing will be held on the matter on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. at Austin City Hall.
The Scott County Health Officer has declared there to be an epidemic of hepatitis C and/or HIV in Scott County,
The city officials will hear public testimony concerning the operation of a syringe exchange program in the city of Austin.
According to a legal notice, found on page 5 of this edition and on-line at www.crothersvilletimes.com verbal and written testimony addressing the declaration and possible program can be filed with the Clerk-Treasurer’s Office and will be made part of the record of the hearing.