Pike County authorizes applying for opioid-abatement grants and approves $50,000 startup for Operation Unite

The Pike County Fiscal Court on Dec. 5 voted to authorize county staff to apply for 2025 Opioid Abatement Commission grants and approved a $50,000 initial-year award to an Operation Unite proposal.

County Judge Jones led discussion on the restrictions attached to the opioid-settlement funds, saying the money is primarily intended for prevention, treatment and recovery and noting the county has received “a couple million dollars” from the settlement but that the exact amount was not specified in the meeting. He described a proposed “hub” where people struggling with opioid-use disorder or their families could get referrals for inpatient or outpatient treatment, counseling and Naloxone training.

"One of the things we talked about with the health department was doing what's called a hub," Judge Jones said, describing the hub as a centralized place for referrals and resources. He also warned that settlement rules limit spending and cited guidance from the settlement steering process. "The restrictions on how that money can be spent essentially can only be used for things like prevention," he said.

Commissioner Lewis moved to authorize Sharon (county staff) to apply for any appropriate 2025 Opioid Abatement Commission grants; Commissioner Atkins seconded the motion. The clerk recorded affirmative roll-call votes from Commissioners Scott, Atkins and Lewis and Judge Jones.

The court separately authorized the judge's executive to execute memoranda of agreement recommended by the Pike County Opioid Settlement Committee and approved funding for Operation Unite: $50,000 in year one and $50,000 per year in years two through seven, which the presenter cited as a $400,000 total over seven years. "The first startup year is 50,000," the presenter said, and staff said years 2–7 would be $50,000 annually.

Court discussion stressed legal limits on allowable uses. Judge Jones and other participants noted that some requested uses — such as paying for deputies who would also perform other law-enforcement duties — would not be allowable under the settlement. Jones also raised concerns about recent Medicaid managed-care reductions affecting treatment-provider reimbursements.

The court directed staff to continue pursuing projects that comply with settlement rules and to explore the hub concept with the health department. The motion to authorize applications and the funding for Operation Unite passed on recorded roll-call votes.