The Huron City Commission voted to provide a letter of support for Community Counseling Services' application for a $35,000 opioid-settlement grant.

Commissioners approved the letter during the regular meeting after a presentation from Community Counseling Services' CEO Belinda Grama and CFO Melissa Hofer about outreach plans and existing services.

Grama said the agency serves seven counties and has provided opioid treatment as a contracted service since 2020, working with Lewis and Clark Behavioral Health and HRMC to provide medications while Community Counseling provides therapy and outreach. She told the commission the requested grant would fund outreach, advertising and prevention work directed at pregnant women, people who inject drugs, youth, seniors and drug-court participants, and would support outreach to about 23 agency-managed apartments where recovery clients live.

“We are applying for $35,000 from the state settlement fund,” Grama said, asking the commission for a letter of support. Melissa Hofer added the agency relies on local and contract funding and that the grant would allow outreach and marketing work the center cannot otherwise afford.

Commission discussion was brief. A commissioner noted the city had provided prior allocations and that organizations may apply for multiple settlement grants; the motion to provide a letter of support passed on a roll-call vote with five ayes.

The commission's action authorizes the mayor or designee to sign a letter supporting Community Counseling Services' grant application; the grant award itself and any contracting or spending would occur only if the state grant is awarded.

Community Counseling said it will partner with local groups for some outreach components and listed education, safe-medication disposal kits and monthly outreach events among planned activities.

Votes at a glance
- Motion: Provide a letter of support for Community Counseling Services to apply for a $35,000 state opioid-settlement grant. Outcome: approved; roll-call: Smith—Aye; Weinrice—Aye; Craig—Aye; Harvey—Aye; Mayor Roach—Aye.