The Iuka City Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday night to immediately outlaw possession, sale and use of Zaza, or tianeptine, a synthetic opioid sold in local convenience stores.
According to board members, the drug will be classified as a Class I narcotic under a new state law that goes into effect in the summer, but it’s locally been available for the past year over the counter at quick stores/gas stations under brand names like Pegasus.
“Police Chief Randy Stringer has been asking us to take action on this, and it’s time to stand behind law enforcement,” said alderman Kenny Carson. “I know a family that has been negatively affected by this stuff – major medical problems, addiction – it’s an opioid! When it hits close to home like that… we needed to do something, even if the state law will supersede our local one.”
“Apparently this is a big problem,” said alderwoman Emily Bell. “We found hundreds of empty bottles during a recent garbage pickup on the ramp to Highway 72.”
Clean Up Iuka day
The Great American Cleanup Day will be March 25th in Iuka and the surrounding community from 8 a.m. to noon. Contact Emily Bell with your team to volunteer to clean up a neighborhood. The Keep Iuka Beautiful committee can help with supplies and directions for places to clean up.
The board discussed getting concrete poured into the islands/medians at the intersection of Battleground and Quitman, and hope this can get done as soon as they have MDOT approval.
The board voted to increase rates on gas, sewer and water for customers outside the local Iuka city limits who are served by Iuka utilities so that everyone pays the same rates.
Mayor Joel Robertson said he is finalizing the overall plan for upgrades to Mineral Springs Park with local engineers and should be able to present the plan next month.