Bremer County authorizes $4,152 opioid‑fund purchase of drug‑deactivation pouches

The Bremer County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve an initial purchase of drug‑deactivation pouches paid from the county’s opioid fund. The board approved an initial minimum order of $4,152 for medium and large pouches and display easels to distribute to partner agencies, not to be inventoried by the county.

Linda (department staff) told the board she surveyed 16 agencies and secured interest from local partners, including the medical examiner, Cedar Valley Hospice, Waverly Health Center pharmacy, Community Memorial Hospital, Northeast Iowa Area Agency on Aging, Pathways, UnityPoint and local clinics. "This is just opioid funding — it’s not local tax dollars," the presenter said when asked how the purchase would be paid. She said the pouches contain activated carbon and allow residents to add water, mix and place the sealed pouch in household trash for safe disposal.

The board discussed distribution logistics and publicity. The presenter said the opioid fund had budgeted $100,000 for the fiscal year and that under $35,000 had been spent to date, leaving room for the purchase. She said staff time and some advertising could be billed to the opioid project and that no expiration date was listed for the pouches. Supervisor questions centered on whether the county or another board (the board of health) should approve spending; the board agreed approval by the board of supervisors was required because the funds and authority rest with the board.

Speaker 4 moved to approve the purchase and the motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. The board asked staff to monitor take‑up, create a survey for partners to request more pouches as needed, and submit additional budget requests for publicity and staff time on a quarterly basis.

The board’s action directs the health department to distribute the initial order to partner agencies and to report future needs back to the board.