Commission approves new part‑time RSAT counselor position and permission to apply for opioid settlement funds for jail program and K‑9 replacement

St. Francois County commissioners voted to approve permission to open a part‑time licensed counselor position in the sheriff’s office for the county’s Residential Substance Abuse Treatment (RSAT) program and granted the sheriff permission to apply for opioid settlement funds and Whitfield settlement funds to support wages and program needs.

The RSAT counselor will be a licensed, part‑time position paid at $40 per hour, and the sheriff said that funding for the counselor is “already in the grant and that budget’s already been approved.” Sheriff’s department staff said the hourly rate is lower than typical private counseling rates. “We’re looking at $40 an hour,” the sheriff’s representative said.

Why it matters: county officials say the counselor and associated funding will help sustain the RSAT program, which provides group and individual counseling inside the detention center. Commissioners were told the county has renovated a visitation area to create a dedicated RSAT meeting room, purchased equipment such as computers and a smart board with RSAT grant funding, and enrolled 10 individuals in the program.

Details and discussion: the sheriff’s representative said the counselor will work solely for the RSAT program. He said the RSAT grant previously required a 25% local match and that he applied for the 25% from the opioid settlement fund to make the RSAT program “fully funded.” He described contingency planning: if the RSAT grant is not available this year, opioid settlement funding would cover the wages and benefits for the jail navigator so the program can continue.

The sheriff’s presentation also included a request to use settlement funding to replace a retired K‑9 (Teo). The replacement dog under consideration is referred to as Onyx, described in the meeting as a 2‑year‑old shepherd. The sheriff’s representative described the animal as a “Title 1” dog that requires additional obedience and dual‑purpose training for narcotics detection and fugitive apprehension. He said the replacement request would include the cost of the dog, a six‑week certification course, a kennel and a vehicle kennel pop‑open system with temperature alarm, and related harnesses and equipment. During the discussion the figure $21,873 was referenced in relation to equipment costs, and a separate line in the presentation showed $110,028.12 as a total funding figure for the application package when a commissioner asked, “are we going for the whole $110,028.12?” The sheriff’s representative said some amounts would be claimed through the RSAT grant if awarded and that he was applying now as a precaution to preserve program continuity.

The sheriff provided an update on RSAT operations: 10 individuals are enrolled; the jail navigator has completed training in MRT (Moral Reconation Therapy) to deliver courses such as finances, parenting and anger management; the renovated visitation room will host group and individual counseling; and the renovations and equipment are being paid through the RSAT grant, the sheriff’s representative said. The sheriff also said the department plans to add volunteer peer supporters to meet with program participants on a volunteer basis.

Action and outcome: commissioners voted in favor of the motions to open the new part‑time RSAT counselor position and to give permission to apply for opioid settlement and Whitfield settlement funds (motions passed; vote recorded as voice vote with “aye” responses). No roll‑call vote with named tallies was recorded in the transcript.

Quotations: the sheriff’s representative said, “This counselor will be a part time counselor and it'll be solely for the RSAP program, residential substance abuse treatment.” He added, “We’re looking at $40 an hour.” On the RSAT facilities and programming he said, “We had not used in person visitations for 5, 6 years...that’s gonna be a meeting room for the RSAP program where the counselors will hold group counselings, individual counselings.”

Next steps and limits: the motions granted permission to apply for funding; commissioners did not appropriate non‑grant county funds for these items beyond amounts already in approved grants. The sheriff said parts of the application would be claimed through the RSAT grant if it is awarded. Commissioners did not specify further conditions in the public discussion.

Ending: commissioners expressed support for sustaining the RSAT program and replacing the retired canine. The sheriff’s office will proceed with applications and program implementation steps discussed at the meeting.