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Garden City commission approves strategic plan for opioid settlement funds, including TrueNarc purchase
Summary
Commission approved a strategic plan to spend the city's opioid settlement funds on immediate safety equipment (a TrueNarc narcotics analyzer and a digital message board) and longer-term needs (needs assessment, advisory and overdose review boards). Staff said the city currently holds about $159,795.52 and expects roughly $290,000 over the next 14 years.
The Garden City City Commission on Oct. 15 approved a strategic plan for spending the city’s opioid litigation settlement funds, directing staff to purchase two immediate items and pursue longer-term community planning and review mechanisms.
Chief Pruitt outlined proposed immediate expenditures: a TrueNarc narcotics analyzer to improve safe, on‑scene identification of suspected narcotics (quoted cost $38,495.22) and a digital message board for public education and notifications (quoted cost $24,505.42). He said staff also plans to conduct a local needs assessment, form an advisory board to guide future spending, and establish an overdose fatality review board to investigate and try to prevent opioid-related deaths.
On the fiscal side, Chief Pruitt told the commission the city currently has $159,795.52 in its opioid settlement fund and is expected to receive a total of roughly $290,000 to the city over the next 14 years under the State’s settlement allocations and memoranda of understanding. "The immediate purchases would be the TrueNarc analyzer and the digital message board for a total of $63,037.22 upon approval," he said.
Commissioners discussed whether the $290,000 figure is a total allocation over 14 years and confirmed it is a total expected sum rather than an annual amount. After questions and brief discussion the commission moved, seconded, and approved the strategic plan by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.
Why it matters: The plan directs settlement dollars to a mix of safety equipment and community planning; staff emphasized compliance with Kansas’ KSA 75-775–781 allocation framework and engagement with county and local partners to identify needs.
Next steps: Staff will proceed with the purchases authorized by the plan and initiate the needs assessment and advisory processes described in the presentation.
