Chippewa County approves opioid settlement participation, funds steering committee planning
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Summary
The Board adopted three resolutions authorizing participation in additional national opioid settlements, approved an annual $2,500 transfer to the Health Department to manage planning, and approved $84,990 in initial FY25 funding agreements for local remediation programs.
Chippewa County commissioners on Aug. 14 unanimously approved three resolutions that expand the county’s participation in national opioid litigation settlements and set a small annual allocation for local planning and administration.
The Board adopted Resolution 2025-15 to transfer $2,500 annually from the county’s opioid settlement fund to the Chippewa County Health Department beginning Oct. 1, 2025, to cover facilitation and administration expenses tied to opioid settlement planning. Commissioner Scott Shackleton introduced the measure and the roll-call vote recorded all five commissioners voting aye.
Commissioners also passed Resolution 2025-16, authorizing participation agreements with eight additional pharmaceutical defendants (Alvogen, Amneal, Apotex, Hikma/Hilana, Indivior, Mylan, Sun, and Zydus) and authorizing execution of a Michigan state-subdivision allocation agreement that would divide certain settlement proceeds between participating local governments and the State of Michigan. Commissioner Damon Lieurance offered the motion; the Board voted unanimously to adopt the resolution.
The Board further approved Resolution 2025-17 to participate in the Purdue/Sackler settlement and authorized the Weitz & Luxenberg law firm to vote on Chippewa County’s behalf in favor of Purdue’s bankruptcy plan. Commissioner Justin Knepper offered that resolution, which also passed unanimously.
Alongside the resolutions, the Board approved a contract for Chippewa County Health Department to manage opioid settlement planning and oversight for $2,500 annually and authorized three FY2025 funding agreements recommended by the Opioid Settlement Steering Committee: Chippewa County Mental Health Court ($23,600, cost-based reimbursement), Face Addiction Now (FAN) ($30,690, fixed price), and the 50th Circuit Drug Court ($30,700, cost-based reimbursement). The agreements were vetted by legal counsel prior to approval.
The resolutions’ preambles state that, as of Aug. 1, 2025, Chippewa County had received $463,646.29 from prior opioid settlements and that the county expects additional payments over 18 years, with aggregate estimates around $1.6 million. The Board approved governance steps for an Opioid Settlement Steering Committee including bylaws and a conflict-of-interest disclosure form to guide allocations.
The Board did not change existing allocations during the meeting; commissioners emphasized the need for careful planning and oversight. Chairman Jim Martin and Commissioner Shackleton noted the national scale of opioid fatalities while urging that local funds be used for evidence-based abatement, prevention, and treatment services. The committee will continue to meet and return recommendations to the Board for formal funding decisions.
Next steps include implementation of the Steering Committee bylaws, distribution of the approved FY25 agreements once contracts are finalized, and further recommendations from the Steering Committee for how to invest settlement proceeds.