County approves roughly $180,000 opioid-settlement grant to Weber Morgan Health Department for prevention and collaboration

The Weber County Commission on Aug. 26 approved a one-year contractor agreement to send approximately $180,000 in opioid litigation settlement funds to the Weber Morgan Health Department to expand local prevention, treatment and coordination efforts.

Chris Crockett, presenting the agreement, said the grant had been discussed in multiple prior work sessions and is funded from the county’s share of opioid settlement proceeds. He said the contract provides roughly $180,000 to the health department for one year.

Bryce Sherwood, community health director for the Weber Morgan Health Department, described planned uses and emphasized the funds would expand existing work rather than replace other funding. Sherwood told the board the funds would support training for local officials, leaders and partner agencies and strengthen collaboration with law enforcement and schools to reduce opioid overdoses. "A lot of these funds would be used for, the collaboration between our agencies, working with our local law enforcement agencies, schools, and our community members again to mitigate the opioid overdoses that we see being the fourth highest in the state," Sherwood said. He added the funding would "increase what we're already doing, not to supplant anything."

Commissioners said a committee evaluated allocations and emphasized a desire for accountability and measurable results. After brief discussion, a commissioner moved to approve the agreement; the motion passed by voice vote.

The agreement is a county grant/contract using opioid litigation settlement funds allocated to jurisdictions for prevention and treatment efforts. No additional budget appropriations or long-term funding commitments were recorded in the meeting discussion; commissioners indicated oversight would follow the county’s grant-management procedures.