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Commissioners freeze $60,000 opioid allocation to Victory Recovery Network, approve sheriff's mobile app contract
Summary
The county voted to freeze a previously approved $60,000 opioid-settlement allocation to Victory Recovery Network after the provider failed to deliver a memorandum of understanding; commissioners also approved a $26,940 three-year contract for a sheriff's mobile app paid from unrestricted opioid funds with JRAC covering the first three years.
Decatur County commissioners voted Monday to freeze $60,000 in opioid-settlement funds earmarked for Victory Recovery Network after the local advisory committee said the organization had not provided a required memorandum of understanding (MOU). The board also approved a sheriff's mobile app contract of $26,940 over three years, to be paid from unrestricted opioid funds with initial years covered by the county's advisory committee.
"We recommend freezing the funds that we had previously approved for Victory Recovery Network, as they have never provided a MOU for us to actually sign," said Stephanie, representing the county's opioid advisory committee (JRAC). She said the MOU had not been provided six months after approval and that staff were considering an alternative provider, Indiana Treatment Center in Columbus.
Commissioners expressed concern about continuity of services. "Our concern is they've asked for the MOU...they just keep saying we'll get it to you," Stephanie said. County counsel Chad Smith was asked to review outstanding legal obligations; he said he needed to examine the arrangement before making a recommendation.
The board moved to freeze the $60,000 allocation to Victory Recovery Network until an MOU is executed or an alternative is contracted; the motion carried by voice vote.
Separately, JRAC recommended $26,940 from unrestricted opioid funds for a three-year contract for a sheriff's office mobile application. Sheriff Eric (last name not provided) described the app as a way to streamline public communications, push emergency and community notifications, and host opioid-recovery resources. "We were approached at the sheriff's association conference, with this app, and we're really excited," the sheriff said during his presentation. JRAC said it would pay the first three years and the sheriff's office planned to use commissary funds to continue the service afterwards.
A motion to approve the contract for the app, funded from unrestricted opioid settlement dollars and administered as recommended by JRAC, passed unanimously.
County staff and JRAC members discussed risks if the current provider withdrew services immediately after funds were frozen; Stephanie said core services would continue, but enhanced services might be delayed until a new provider was in place. The board instructed staff to coordinate with counsel to clarify any outstanding payment obligations before finalizing provider transitions.
