The Kossuth County Board of Supervisors voted to approve three allocations from the county’s National Opioid Settlement funds after unanimous recommendation from the county’s opioid settlement grant review committee.

The committee — which the chair described as newly formed and including law‑enforcement and school representatives — recommended funding Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Health for start‑up costs of a methadone‑based opioid treatment program. The applicant requested $18,440.55 to establish treatment services "to serve individuals struggling with opioid addiction, including those affected by fentanyl and heroin," and the committee unanimously approved forwarding the recommendation to the board.

Kossuth County Public Health requested $755 to pilot SafeRx locking prescription vials to prevent accidental access and diversion for high‑risk home‑health patients; the committee also approved that request. A third request from Kossuth County Public Health asked roughly $9,400–$10,000 to bring a nationally recognized speaker for community presentations, Narcan demonstrations and distribution; the committee approved presenting that request as well.

The board moved and then formally approved the three grants by roll‑call vote. After a clerical correction to the resolution number, the board recorded the approvals as official.

Why it matters: Local use of opioid settlement funds is restricted to remediation, treatment and prevention activities. The board’s approval aims to expand local treatment capacity and prevention tools, including a harm‑reduction pilot and community education.