City attorney briefs council on deadline to join Kroger opioid settlement; municipal order to be drafted for next meeting

City Attorney Emily updated the Georgetown City Council on a recently announced state settlement with Kroger related to opioid distribution and explained a coming deadline for local governments to opt in to the agreement.

Emily said the Kentucky Attorney General pursued a separate state action against Kroger and that the settlement structure splits recovered funds: roughly half to the state and half to participating local governments. Outside counsel retained by the city recommended Georgetown opt in; Emily said the deadline for local participation paperwork is Feb. 17. She told council the action would require the council to adopt a municipal order to participate and that she would prepare a draft municipal order for the council’s next meeting.

Emily warned that participation typically requires a city to release future claims against the defendant; she told council: “The consideration in participating in the settlement is that you would release any potential claims you would have against Kroger.” Councilmembers asked for more detail on projected payment amounts, distribution schedules and allowable uses of settlement funds. Emily and staff said they would circulate a summary from outside counsel that explains allocation estimates and time frames and would present a municipal order on the next meeting agenda for formal action.

Nut graf: The council did not vote but directed staff to prepare a municipal order and provide background material on prior opioid settlements, payment estimates and permitted uses of funds (abatement and treatment programs). The city previously used opioid settlement funds to create a recovery support coordinator position in the police department.

Ending: Emily will circulate the draft municipal order and counsel’s summary prior to the next meeting; councilmembers said they expected to consider the municipal order at the Feb. 10 meeting.