Crow Wing County commissioners voted to add a grant-funded public health nurse to support cannabis and broader substance-use prevention work.

Tammy Luebke, adult services manager for Community Services, told the board the county received a $116,561.28 award for cannabis and substance-use prevention and asked the board to approve a new public health nurse position funded by the award and by public health foundation dollars. "This is work that we are required to do by MDH," Luebke said, referring to the Minnesota Department of Health.

The position's responsibilities will include participating in site visits, completing grant reconciliation with MDH, joining scheduled MDH calls and evaluation activities, running technical assistance webinars and trainings, and conducting prevention work in the community. Luebke said the position will "partner with our [opioid?] coordinator to ensure that we're not duplicating any efforts." She also told commissioners the position is fully funded by the grant and foundation funds and "will not be or have an impact to the levy." Board members asked whether the funding could cover other substance-prevention activities beyond cannabis; Luebke responded the position "can be used for all substance abuse prevention activities" while noting cannabis is the priority area.

Commissioner Barrow moved to approve adding the position; Commissioner Haug seconded. During the roll call one commissioner stated, "I voted no," and the clerk recorded the final tally as four yeses and one no. The motion carried.

The board and staff clarified that the job is contingent on the grant: if the funding ends, the county will not continue the position. Luebke confirmed that contingency during the discussion.

Why it matters: the hire expands the county's capacity to meet state grant requirements and deliver local prevention services without drawing on levy funds.

Ending: County staff will proceed with creating the position on the approved funding basis and will implement the grant activities required by MDH.