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Findlay council approves use of opioid settlement funds for Adams (Adamus) programs after debate
Summary
Ordinance 20-25-024 was adopted to allocate national opioid settlement funds to the Hancock County board (Adamus) for prevention, treatment and response programming; one council member voted against the measure, asking about alternatives such as offsetting officer time.
Findlay City Council on Feb. 18 adopted Ordinance 20-25-024, authorizing the use of national opioid settlement monies for programs administered by the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (Adamus).
Council member Miss Frishee asked whether the county had similarly joined the litigation and whether the county would provide funds to Adamus. She also questioned whether settlement funds could be used to offset police officer time spent on outreach and services to people experiencing substance use, noting the accounting burdens of tying officer time to opioid-specific activities.
The mayor and other council members said the settlement funds are earmarked for categories such as prevention, treatment and response; staff explained the practical structure would be to move funds into a project and allow Adamus to invoice the city for services. The mayor noted the city had set aside roughly $50,000 that could be used to subsidize officers’ time in schools or similar activities if council later chooses that option.
Why it matters: The ordinance directs previously received opioid-settlement money toward behavioral-health services instead of letting the funds remain unused. The measure was debated on appropriate uses and tracking requirements for personnel time.
Vote and action: Council suspended rules and then adopted the ordinance; Miss Frishee voted no during both the rules suspension and the final adoption, citing concerns about using funds externally rather than for city personnel efforts. The ordinance passed on a recorded vote.
Ending: Staff said Adamus would invoice the city for project work, and the auditor’s preferred accounting structure would be used to manage invoicing and fund drawdowns.
