Richland County committee approves $15,000 from opioid settlement for treatment court training; members press for clearer budget

The Richland County Community and Health Services standing committee voted to forward $15,000 in opioid-settlement grant funds to the full county board to support continuing education for the county treatment court team.

The committee’s action followed a lengthy discussion in which members, county staff and treatment court volunteers reviewed a larger original request and pressed the team for more detailed, itemized costs before sending a larger sum to the full board. Committee members described concerns about precedent, the participation of county employees, and how travel and meal reimbursements would interact with county policies.

Sue Larson, who identified herself as a volunteer treatment provider on the treatment court team, told the committee she prepared the application and said she “overestimated on the mileage as well just to make sure that we have enough money.” Larson said she volunteers time and sometimes pays expenses up front: “I volunteer my time to be part of, like, this meeting, the treatment court meetings … that's all in my own time.”

Law-enforcement and team members emphasized the training’s value. Jason, who identified himself with law enforcement on the team, and other partners described the team as multidisciplinary and said national conferences let the whole team learn, brainstorm and coordinate in ways not possible when only one person attends. A circuit-court judge on the team said national conferences “are meant to give us the best tools” and noted the team treats participants who are high‑risk and high‑need.

County staff and several committee members questioned travel details and the number of attendees. Candace, a county staff member who explained grant administration, said the County Board is the custodian of the grant and that the committee must consider how monies are handled. Committee members asked for itemized hotel, mileage and meal estimates and raised the optics of sending a large group to an out‑of‑state conference when the request would involve county employees whose wages or benefits could be charged to county funds.

After discussion, a motion to forward $15,000 to the county board for treatment-court continuing education (to be reimbursed with receipts and spent by Dec. 31, 2025) carried. Committee members asked the team to supply more detailed, itemized estimates to the committee and to the full board to be prepared to justify the request if it moves forward.

The committee’s action will be considered by the full county board; the treatment court team will need to submit receipts and reimbursement documentation to use the funds if the board approves the committee recommendation.