Union County officials discussed a proposal to start a county emergency medical responder program to expand first-responder capacity and make training, licensing and supplies consistent across municipalities.

Proponents told the group that several municipalities have been reluctant to run responder programs because of liability and training concerns and that a county-run program could deliver a single, system-wide approach. Participants said the program would require licensing and coordination but did not finalize a budget line in the meeting.

County staff and commissioners discussed potential funding sources. One participant asked whether opioid-settlement funds could cover some purchases (for example, public-safety equipment tied to overdose response); staff said the allowable uses would need to be confirmed and that they would "pull the qualified uses" and revisit the question later. No formal determination or accounting change was approved in the transcript provided.

Discussion also covered whether villages would participate and how licenses and training requirements would be managed. Officials expressed concern about individual volunteer liability and the administrative burden of training at the municipal level; several participants said a centralized county program could reduce duplication and simplify supply procurement.

Participants did not vote on creation of the program during the recorded discussion. Instead, they agreed to investigate allowable uses of specific grant or settlement funds and to revisit the request when staff returns with confirmed cost and eligibility details.