Commission will decide on funding for Burke Recovery Court

Pre-agenda meetings for the Burke County Board of Commissioners tend to be fairly cut-and-dried affairs, but Monday’s featured a decidedly emotional component.

It came during discussion of a consent agenda item concerning the future of Burke Recovery Court, a program that helps those battling addiction stay out of prison and recover.

Chris Otstott, a graduate and current employee of recovery court, told commissioners what the program did for him — essentially pulling him back from the brink of death and giving him a chance at a healthy, drug-free life.

“Without this program, I wouldn’t be standing here today. I’d be in prison or dead,” Otstott said. “I was homeless, hopeless. I wanted to die.”

Otstott, 32, spent nearly 20 years in active addiction before landing in Burke Recovery Court, which is administered by The Cognitive Connection in Hickory.

He completed the program in 2023 and now works for the recovery court in Burke and Caldwell counties.

Whether or not to keep the initiative going will be up to commissioners at their regular monthly meeting in two weeks.

Starting in 2019, the recovery court was funded by grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).

Those grants ended last September, and the county has funded the program with part of its $25 million share of the national opioid lawsuit settlement money since then.

It will cost $216,000, or $12,000 per month, to keep recovery court going from July 2025 through December 2026. Based on their reactions Monday, the commissioners will likely decide to do so.

Randy Burns thanked Otstott for sharing his story and walked down from his seat to shake Otstott’s hand. Mike Stroud did the same, offering Otstott a hug.

“I’m all about people recovering and being the best version of themselves,” an emotional Stroud said.

Vice chair Phil Smith, noting the presence of Burke County Superior Court Judge Dan Kuehnert, who supports the program wholeheartedly, remarked, “I see Judge Dan Kuehnert sitting out there. I’ve talked to him several times and he’s a big cheerleader for it. I respect him a lot, and I can tell you if he’s for it, I am, too.”

Hugh Sandoe, the county’s budget strategy and performance analyst, said the program has posted a solid success rate since last October, when the county began collecting monthly progress reports.

There are currently 19 participants, including five who have joined since October. Since 2022, recovery court has produced 16 graduates and boasts a 57% success rate.

“The national average for graduation is much lower than 57%, so we’re very excited about that number,” Sandoe said.

Post-graduation employment and housing rates are both 94%.

Robert Mullinax, chief district court judge in Burke County, said the court has been the highlight of his tenure, which began last December.

“The Burke County Recovery Court is a shining star in our local judicial system,” Mullinax said.

Kuehnert said funding the program’s administration locally gives the county more input on how the money is spent. All legal personnel are paid by the state.

Sandoe added he plans to seek outside funding to supplement the county’s contribution. He’s convinced it’s worthwhile.

“Even one more person who has a successful outcome is a victory,” Sandoe added.

Otstott can confirm.

“The program gave me hope, and that little bit of hope is all we need,” he said. “Not continuing the program would be a disservice to the community.”

“They loved me until I could love myself.”