Nelson County Fiscal Court on Dec. 2 approved a $5,000 appropriation from the county's opioid fund to support Nelcare's program that provides treatment options through the court system as an alternative to incarceration.

County officials said the opioid fund balance is about $170,000 and that Betty Hart with Nelcare requested $5,000 to support program operations. The court noted the program overseen by Victoria Hoff provides treatment for some inmates through court supervision; Judge Kelly and other officials described the program as a productive use of opioid fund dollars. After a motion to appropriate $5,000, the court voted to approve the request.

Quote from the meeting: "Betty Hart with Nelcare is asking for us to appropriate $5,000 out of our funds," a court member said.

Next steps: Nelcare and county staff will coordinate disbursement and program details; no contract or detailed budget was read into the record during the meeting.