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Morgan County approves ordinance awarding roughly $650,000 in local opioid-settlement grants
Summary
The board adopted an ordinance to distribute approximately $650,000 of the county's opioid settlement funds to local programs after a multi-stakeholder review and selection process.
Morgan County's Board of Commissioners on May 5 approved an ordinance to award grants from the county's share of opioid settlement funds to local organizations, following a months-long application and review process.
A public-health staff member told the board the allocation process began with a committee that reviewed roughly 15 applications. "We whittled that down and awarded just around $650,000 is what we're recommending to you all," the presenter said. The staff presentation noted the committee reduced many applicants' requested budgets and that a portion of funding includes carryover obligations into a second year.
Why it matters: opioid settlement funds are restricted to responses to opioid-related harms and are intended to support local treatment, prevention and recovery services. The county's committee prioritized local providers and trimmed budgets to fit available dollars.
Key details
- Process: The board previously authorized a committee to solicit and review applications. The committee benchmarked other jurisdictions and met repeatedly to score and vet requests.
- Awards: Staff recommended and the board approved approximately $650,000 in year-one awards to multiple organizations; the ordinance lists each grantee, a description of the services, and the dollar amount recommended. The presenter thanked Keeley Wright and Nikki Joe McCrady for substantial volunteer support on the committee.
- Oversight: The ordinance sets award amounts and conditions; staff will handle grant administration and reporting back to the board.
Discussion vs. decision
Discussion centered on the committee's workload and the county's local provider network. Commissioners commented that committee members invested substantial time and that many funds will go to local organizations operating in Morgan County. The formal action to adopt the ordinance was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote.
What happens next
Staff will implement the grant awards as described in the ordinance and oversee the required reporting and deliverables to ensure funds are spent in accordance with settlement restrictions.
