Troy has joined the legal fight against opioids, opting to join a class-action suit in partnership with Jinks, Crow and Dickson, P.C. among other law firms.

City attorney Dickey Calhoun advised the council that they should join in the suit as the city would not have to pay out any money unless the firm wins money on the city’s behalf.

If there’s no recovery on our behalf, we owe nothing,” Calhoun said. “There must be some significant benefit or these law firms wouldn’t be filing cases.”

If the firms do recover money for the City, the firms would recoup legal expenses and 25 percent of the money.

While multiple other law firms also approached the City about joining lawsuits, Mayor Jason Reeves said they were all equally qualified and were offering similar proposals, so he recommended choosing the law firm that first approached the council.

The council also went into executive session twice, once during the executive committee meeting to discuss an economic prospect and once during the council meeting to discuss matters pertaining to an individual’s good name and character in regards to a business license request by Andre Ellis.

Ellis is seeking a business license to start Elegance Limousine Services.

“What we’re looking to do is bring the citizens of Pike County their own limo service,” Ellis said. “The citizens of Troy shouldn’t have to pay $125 to call a limo service outside of Troy.”

Ellis said the council asked questions about a prior conviction on first-degree theft of property. Ellis was also convicted of two counts of rape and a count of second-degree burglary in March 2012, but the convictions were later overturned in Pike County Circuit Court.

“I told the city council the mistakes of my past are in my past and I’m done with that,” Ellis said. “I’m an upstanding citizen of Troy asking for a license for a legitimate business that the city needs.”

Alton Starling, circuit clerk, said the license request will remain on the agenda as no action was taken during the council meeting.

Starling said Ellis must first get a state license from the Public Service Commission before the city could issue a license because Ellis’ business would include transporting people across county lines.

“If he does not have a license from that group, I cannot issue that license; it doesn’t matter whether council approves it or not,” Starling said.

In other business, the council:

• Approved the transfer of off-premises beer and win licenses from the owners of Ingram’s Curb Market to Troy Meat City, which is the new name of the store.

• Approved the transfer of off-premises beer and win licenses from the owners of Rite Aid to Walgreen’s.

• Approved a special event liquor license to B&B bartending for a sorority formal on April 21.

• Rejected bids for recycling vehicles due to the council seeking a grant to purchase the vehicles instead.

• Approved improvements at lift stations four and five to improve flow of sewage. The upgrades come from Palmer Electric, the low bidder at $98,000, which will be funded by a bond issue the city secured for utilities.