Stevens County approves opioid‑related grant awards including transportation, housing and training projects
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Summary
The Stevens County Board approved a set of opioid‑settlement/community allocations covering local programs for transportation to treatment, housing stabilization, controlled substance security for ambulance services and training; commissioners recorded one abstention on a kinship training award.
Stevens County and its regional partners presented recommended allocations from opioid‑related funds and the board approved the packet of grants after a separate, abstention‑recorded vote on one kinship training item.
Public health staff described the allocation process for the multi‑county region and noted the county’s application pool requested roughly $87,876.34 while the county’s unallocated balance available for awards was about $128,937.64 (figures presented during the advisory council review). The county’s awards included multi‑county and Stevens‑only projects.
Examples of approved grants and uses described in the record:
- A car‑care/transportation program (multi‑county, Liberty/CarCare) to help remove transportation barriers for clients traveling to recovery and treatment appointments. - Funding for a local kinship education and training project (Stevens County kinship training, $720) — the board approved the kinship award but recorded one commissioner’s abstention on that specific item. - West Central Minnesota Community Action funding for housing stabilization supports in Stevens County due to high demand for housing assistance. - Purchase of secure controlled‑substance lock boxes for the Stevens County ambulance service to improve audit trails and reduce risk associated with narcotics storage (one‑time equipment expense).
Why it matters: The grants target gaps in treatment access, housing stability and the safe handling of controlled substances by first responders and aim to distribute settlement or grant dollars into community services. Staff said the regional advisory process prioritized projects that meet fund parameters and demonstrate local capacity to execute.
The board approved the kinship item separately (one abstention recorded) and then approved the remainder of the recommended awards by voice vote.