Commissioners authorize tax-foreclosure filing and give authority on opioid and deductible-recovery matters

Following an executive session on attorney–client matters, Pratt County commissioners authorized several legal actions: authority to file a tax-foreclosure lawsuit, approval for county counsel to sign documents related to the Purdue bankruptcy plan and the Sackler-family governmental settlement agreement, and permission to consult Butler & Associates PA of Topeka about joining litigation to recover an insurance deductible tied to a car-chase incident.

The motions were presented by the county attorney (identified in the record as requesting authority) and carried unanimously by the board. One motion asked for authority to “file the tax foreclosure lawsuit”; another asked the board to approve executing documents to join the Purdue bankruptcy plan and governmental entity settlement agreement involving the Sackler family and to join nine defendant settlements connected to opioid litigation. Commissioners also authorized discussion with Butler & Associates PA about recovery of a deductible the county paid in relation to a car-chase incident.

Each motion passed on a 3-0 vote per the meeting record. Staff recorded no immediate expenditures tied to these authorizations; future steps — including filings, settlement signings or retainer agreements with outside counsel — will be brought back to the board as needed for execution under the previously granted authority.