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Alpena County approves opioid settlement spending for jail nurse and community services
Summary
The board adopted resolutions on Sept. 23 to allocate $62,700 in opioid remediation funds for a jail nurse and to award Rebom Rescue $15,000 (with another $10,000 for FY26 as invoices are submitted) to support people entering rehabilitation; disbursement requires fully executed agreements.
The Alpena County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 23 adopted two resolutions directing opioid settlement remediation funds toward a jail nurse position and community reentry services.
Resolution #25-17 authorizes $62,700 for an Alpena County jail nurse role, with the board directing staff to execute agreements for services related to prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Administrator Jesse Osmer told the board that the county——————approach was conservative and that the state Attorney General———————————————————————————office had noted favorably that the county allocated funds proportionally for time spent with opioid-affected individuals.
Resolution #25-19 approves $15,000 in immediate funding to Rebom Rescue, an organization that boards pets for people entering rehabilitation and provides follow-up support to help clients re-enter the workforce and secure housing; the resolution also allows an additional $10,000 to be released in FY26 as invoices are submitted. The Huron Humane Society was noted as having a $30,000 allocation but disbursement requires invoices and completed agreements.
Both resolutions include the same administrative safeguard: "no funds will be distributed until the fully executed agreements have been received by Alpena County." Board members voted to adopt both resolutions as presented.
Why it matters: The allocations direct county-held opioid settlement proceeds toward health-care staffing and community supports aimed at prevention, treatment and reentry services. The jail nurse funding is earmarked for work involving individuals affected by opioid misuse, and the Rebom Rescue funds are intended to remove a barrier (pet care) for people entering treatment.
Next steps: County staff will prepare and execute agreements with recipients before funds are released.
