Decatur County approves opioid-settlement distributions for treatment and youth prevention programs

Decatur County commissioners voted Oct. 20 to approve a slate of distributions from local opioid settlement proceeds recommended by the county's JRAQ allocation group, funding treatment, transitional housing transportation and youth prevention work.

The allocations come from a total Decatur County settlement balance the presenters said was $554,702.98. Judge Day told the board the county had distributed prior awards and that $206,006.81 remained available before the new approvals. If the proposals approved Oct. 20 are paid, Judge Day said, the balance would drop to about $71,681.98.

Judge Day and Abby Harry of court services described the funding the group recommended. Judge Day said $132,000 previously went to a wellness court administrator and that other prior awards included mortgage payoff support for Speranza, and funding for Ascension Recovery Services, which provides substance-use treatment tied to…