Mahoning County approves $464,000 opioid-settlement MOU to fund Boardman first-responder wellness center

Mahoning County Commissioners on May 8 approved a resolution to enter into a memorandum of understanding with Boardman Township to use $464,000 in opioid-settlement funds to support a first-responder wellness center on property donated by the Smith family.

Boardman Township representatives and local public-safety leaders described the planned facility as a centralized space for dispatchers, police, fire and emergency medical services to receive mental-health support, peer counseling and training. A Boardman Township speaker told commissioners, “This is a wonderful project ... Our goal is to be able to open it in October, which is actually First Responders Day,” and thanked county leaders for support.

County officials and public-safety leaders said the wellness center will host training and provide a place for peer support and recovery services for first responders who confront traumatic events on the job. One speaker emphasized that the facility will offer both proactive wellness work and post-incident assistance and that the center will be available to police, fire, EMS and dispatch.

The MOU was presented as a continuation of support from the commissioners dating to at least an April 9 discussion. At the May 8 meeting, the commissioners moved to approve multiple resolutions; the roll call for the group of resolutions recorded the commissioners voting to approve (roll-call responses included Commissioner D'Favio: Yes; Commissioner Remedio Reghetti: Yes). The transcript did not identify the individual who formally moved or seconded the motion on this specific MOU but indicated it was included in the batch of approved resolutions.

Clarifying details in the record include the $464,000 funding amount, that the land for the facility was donated by the Smith family, and the target opening in October (referred to as First Responders Day). The MOU references use of opioid-settlement dollars; the transcript did not specify a detailed budget breakdown or long-term operating funding. Commissioners and township officials expressed support and said the facility will also be used for police training.

No objections or formal amendments to the MOU were recorded in the transcript at the time of the vote recorded during the meeting.