Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Health Human Services Opioid Recovery topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
HHS update: opioid settlement funds eyed for recovery housing; roof repair estimates still pending
Summary
Health and Human Services staff described uses under consideration for opioid settlement funds, including recovery housing and room-and-board gaps for Medicaid-paid residential treatment; staff also reported the HHS building likely needs full roof replacement and will return with cost estimates.
The finance committee reviewed Health and Human Services (HHS) budget materials and heard updates on potential uses for Ashland County's opioid settlement funds and the status of the HHS building roof.
Terry, HHS staff, told the committee the county's overdose fatality review team has identified medication-assisted treatment in the jail and a shortage of recovery housing as key needs. "We review overdoses in our community. We identify things that may have been causal, things that we could have prevented," Terry said, describing the review team's role. He said jail medication-assisted treatment was covered by a grant, but recovery housing remains an unmet need and was identified as an appropriate use for opioid-settlement funds if other grants do not continue.
Terry also said the county has used opioid-settlement dollars to cover room-and-board costs that Medicaid does not pay when residents receive residential treatment; he said the county planned to request similar help from settlement funds if state supports lapse.
On the HHS roof, staff reported they sought estimates for repair versus full replacement. Dave, the county maintenance lead, told staff the asphalt-shingle section is failing and likely needs full replacement; the adjacent metal section is reportedly in good condition. Committee members emphasized that any steel-roof estimate should include a tear-off and proper underlayment rather than simply installing metal over existing shingles; a committee member warned that putting metal over asphalt typically shortens roof life.
Members voted to give preliminary approval to the HHS budget; the motion carried. Staff said they would return with capital request figures for the roof in the next budget round and seek competitive bids for repair versus replacement.
