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Williams County pledges $10,000 to help sustain six-county opioid/mental-health liaison
Summary
The Williams County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a one-time $10,000 contribution to help sustain a MAN Unit substance-abuse and mental-health liaison who serves six counties, after presenters described overdose response work and ongoing grant efforts.
Williams County Commissioners on Jan. 8 voted unanimously to contribute $10,000 toward sustaining a substance-abuse and mental-health liaison who responds to overdoses and coordinates treatment across a six-county Mobile Assistance Network (MAN) Unit.
The board’s decision followed a presentation by Ben Williams, a supervisor with the regional task force, and Nicky Ferguson, the liaison position created in 2024. Ferguson told the commissioners that Williams County experienced one fatal overdose and seven nonfatal overdoses in 2025 and that the liaison’s duties include responding to overdoses, connecting survivors and family members to treatment, taking referrals from law enforcement or Job & Family Services, and providing education to schools, fire/EMS and community groups.
“Unfortunately, there was one fatal overdose in Williams County and there were seven other overdoses,” Ferguson said, describing both fatal and nonfatal responses and the liaison’s role linking people to services.
Williams framed the request as a sustainability measure: the liaison position was initially funded by a two-year Ohio COSOP grant that ends in 2026, and the task force is seeking local pledges while pursuing larger state settlement and grant dollars. He told commissioners the position’s annual operating cost across the partnering jurisdictions is about $109,000. He also said Defiance City pledged $25,000, Fulton County $20,000 and Defiance County $20,000 toward the position.
Commissioner Terry N. Rummel moved that the county contribute $10,000, with approval by the county prosecutor and the clerk. Bartley E. Westfall seconded the motion; roll call votes were Terry N. Rummel yes, Bartley E. Westfall yes and Scott A. Lirot yes.
Presenters told the board the liaison’s work extends across county lines and supports investigations, education and quicker referral to treatment — work they said fits the statutory and settlement purposes for opioid-settlement funds. Commissioners discussed asking participating cities and other counties to share the cost and noted the board’s $10,000 is a one-time commitment pending larger funding decisions.
The board recorded the action as a motion carried in open session; the clerk will prepare documentation and the county prosecutor will review the legal authority for the payment before funds are released. The MAN Unit presenters said they will continue applying for long-term grants and regional settlement awards to sustain the position.
