Hand County moves opioid settlement receipts into dedicated fund and approves DetectaChem purchase for sheriff's office

Hand County commissioners voted to transfer $19,399.12 in opioid settlement receipts from the county general fund into a dedicated opioid fund and to approve a purchase of a portable drug spectrometer for use by local law enforcement.

County staff said the receipts stem from a national settlement with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Sheriff's-office representative Shane told the commission the county lacks a local recovery center and has limited tools to safely screen suspected fentanyl and other powders. "A spectrometer, which is a laser device that detects thousands of chemicals, and it detects it through containers," Shane said, describing the handheld device as a way to avoid opening potentially dangerous packages.

Shane presented a negotiated price of $23,697.75 for the DetectaChem spectrometer and related supplies and said the city of Miller agreed to reimburse roughly $772.75. Commissioners moved, seconded and approved using the opioid fund balance to purchase the device; the county will place the order and the city will provide the small reimbursement as discussed.

Commissioners asked how the device would be used in evidence and were told the spectrometer provides an immediate chemical readout and can reduce the need for some lab confirmations, although staff said leafy materials such as marijuana or mushrooms are not reliably read by the device.

What—s next: staff will place the order and complete payment; the county expects to document reimbursement from the city of Miller as discussed.