Napoleon council approves using portion of 1 Ohio settlement fund to help sustain regional substance‑abuse liaison
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Summary
The council voted to donate a portion of the city’s 1 Ohio settlement account to support a six‑county substance‑abuse and mental‑health liaison position, a job that responds to overdoses, connects residents to treatment and runs a naloxone "leave behind" program.
Napoleon City Council voted to donate a portion of the city’s 1 Ohio settlement fund to a six‑county Main Unit to help sustain a liaison position that responds to overdoses and connects residents and families to treatment and grief support.
The position, held by Nikki Ferguson, began in November 2024 and was previously funded through a federal grant that is not being renewed. Ferguson told council the role responds to both fatal and nonfatal overdoses, connects family members of overdose victims to specialized grief services, takes referrals through a new QR‑code referral tool, provides education in schools and works with local fire departments on a naloxone “leave behind” program.
"If it is a nonfatal overdose, my goal is to connect that person to treatment and services," Ferguson said, describing outreach and referral work across the six‑county area. She added the program recently began tracking data in a system called Core Data and has recorded help to 92 individuals since November 2024.
City staff said the 1 Ohio settlement account currently totals $33,000. Council and staff discussed leaving a modest balance (staff suggested leaving about $3,000) while earmarking the remainder to sustain the liaison position; the request was framed as an interim step while the task force seeks additional grants and local support.
Council moved, seconded and approved the donation by roll call. The motion directs staff to allocate a portion of the settlement funds to the Main Unit for the specific purpose of supporting the liaison position and related overdose‑response activities. The council did not specify an exact dollar amount in the motion beyond the staff discussion of the $33,000 account balance and the suggested $3,000 retained balance.
Officials said the funding will be used to continue the liaison’s outreach, leave‑behind naloxone supply work and community education while the Main Unit pursues future grant opportunities.
