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Commissioners approve $10,000 contribution toward regional opioid liaison after task-force briefing
Summary
After a presentation from the regional opioid task force, the board approved a conditional $10,000 contribution to help sustain a substance-use/mental-health liaison who responds to overdoses and connects people to treatment; task-force leaders said the role serves six counties and is funded in part by local pledges.
Williams County commissioners voted to provide a $10,000 contribution to sustain a regional substance-abuse and mental-health liaison position after representatives of the regional opioid task force outlined the role and local overdose trends.
Ben, a task-force supervisor, said the liaison post was created in 2024 and helps link people who experience overdoses to treatment and recovery services. "In 2024, we established this liaison position," he said, explaining the post supports quick response and cross-jurisdictional coordination.
Nikki Ferguson, the task force's substance abuse and mental-health liaison, presented Williams County statistics for 2025 and described the liaison's duties. "Unfortunately, there was one fatal overdose in Williams County, and there were seven other overdoses," Ferguson said, adding the position responds to both fatal and nonfatal overdoses, helps connect families to services and works with schools, fire/EMS and law enforcement on training and referrals.
Commander Williams, representing the main unit, described the position as central to regional efforts and said it fits the intended uses of opioid-settlement funds. "Her position is almost a textbook definition of what those funds can be used for," Williams said, praising the liaison's work in stitching together investigations and education across neighboring counties.
Task-force presenters said sustaining the position will require roughly $109,000 annually shared among participating jurisdictions; Defiance City and two counties had already pledged funds. Commissioners asked clarifying questions about reporting, how many Williams County residents the liaison serves and whether EMS reporting can be improved.
A commissioner moved — and another seconded — to approve a $10,000 payment contingent on approval by the county prosecutor and the auditor. The board approved the contribution by roll call. The motion was described in meeting minutes as coming from county funds and subject to legal and fiscal approval.
Next steps: staff were asked to confirm the payment mechanism and to follow up with the task force on how the county's contribution will be documented alongside other local pledges and future competitive grant applications.
