Local recovery providers ask Boone County to form advisory committee to steward opioid settlement funds

Two local recovery providers told the Boone County Council they want to help the county steward incoming opioid settlement funds by forming a stakeholder advisory committee similar to models used in neighboring counties.

Lynette Clark, managing member of Integrative Wellness for NWell, said the proposal would not change previously allocated funds but would guide future settlements into community priorities. "We would have, like, corrections, behavioral health, hopefully a council member, someone from the auditor's office to help us kind of figure out what money is coming in and what settlement it's coming from," Clark said.

Macy Simmons, director of Addiction and Recovery Services, described how other counties use restricted vs. unrestricted settlement dollars, and outlined a grant-review process and templates the county could adopt. Simmons said some opioid settlements distribute funds over many years and that unrestricted dollars can be used to match state grants, citing successful projects in Montgomery County.

Council members asked about committee membership, whether the county filed any separate litigation (it did not), and how much funding Boone County might receive; staff said allocations vary and described an approximate 70/30 split between restricted and unrestricted buckets used by state calculations.

A motion to form the advisory committee was made, seconded, and approved by roll call. The council also voted to appoint a council member to serve as the body’s representative.

Next steps: Staff will work with the presenters to draft a formal committee structure, public meeting procedures and an appointment for the council’s representative to the advisory committee.