Council approves $5,000 reimbursement for local substance-use conference from opioid settlement funds amid legal questions

The Vigo County Council approved an additional appropriation to reimburse KC (fiscal agent for Drug Free Vigo County) $5,000 for a substance-use conference, after council members debated whether restricted opioid settlement funds could be used for the payment.

Brandon Hallock, the coalition fiscal agent, told the council the conference cost roughly $15,000, drew about 75 attendees and was supported by a mix of grant funds and registration fees. “This is a community-level conference… we’re able to use folks from our juvenile probation department, Hamilton Center, Union Hospital, the School Corporation,” Hallock said.

Council debate focused on which settlement account should be used. Councilman Randy Gentry said he worried the restricted settlement funds were intended strictly for opioid remediation and asked how using funds for conference expenses would affect future nonprofit requests. “I’m worried that we’re setting a precedent,” Gentry said. He also asked for clarity about how many restricted and unrestricted settlement accounts existed and the broader priorities for those funds.

County legal staff and administration responded that the appropriation as advertised used an unrestricted classification or — if needed — would be re-advertised to take the money from the unrestricted account. County attorney or counsel confirmed the appropriation could be re-advertised to take funds from a different account if necessary. Later in the meeting a county official cited Indiana Code 4-6-15 on opioid litigation and settlement, noting the statute references use for treatment, education and prevention programs for opioid use disorder and co-occurring substance-use or mental-health issues.

After discussion, the council approved the reimbursement by roll call. The roll recorded Councilman Randy Gentry as voting no and Councilman Steve Ellis as voting no; the other council members voted yes and the motion carried.

Supporters emphasized the conference’s local reach and that it used local presenters and venues to avoid travel for attendees. Critics said the county needs a formal plan for settlement funds to avoid piecemeal spending, urging a broader policy discussion and clearer criteria for awarding settlement dollars to nonprofits.

County staff said they will re-advertise the appropriation from the correct account if legal review shows the restricted account cannot be used for this reimbursement. The administration and council agreed to schedule a fuller policy discussion of opioid-settlement spending and criteria for future nonprofit requests.