Commissioners authorize county participation in opioid settlement process as advised by counsel

County legal counsel has advised Lincoln County to participate in a newly announced settlement related to opioid litigation, and commissioners authorized county staff to act on that advice and sign an authorization to vote by master ballot in a required bankruptcy action.

The county administrator told commissioners the legal team representing the county in the opioid settlement fund process had secured proposed settlement terms from a new defendant and that documentation is currently confidential. The administrator said the settlement is expected to yield funds to Lincoln County over a multi‑year distribution schedule and that the legal counsel recommended the county accept the terms.

Because the settlement documents are confidential at this stage, the administrator asked for and received permission to sign the authorization needed to participate and vote in the bankruptcy-related master ballot process. The administrator said, if funding is received, staff will report the defendant name and amounts to the board in open session.

A motion to authorize participation “as advised by legal counsel” passed on a recorded 3–0 vote.