Officials endorse creating Wichita–Sedgwick advisory coalition to guide opioid settlement spending

Sedgwick County staff recommended forming a joint advisory body to manage local opioid settlement dollars and bring community expertise to spending decisions.

“We have tentatively named for the purpose of conversation as the Wichita Sedgwick County Addiction Intervention Coalition,” Rusty Leeds said, describing an 11–15 member advisory group that would advise both the city council and county commission on allocations, help prepare RFPs and monitor recipients’ performance. Leeds said the body would include representatives across treatment, prevention, law enforcement and lived experience and would operate with joint procurement and a finance MOU between the city and county.

The presentation framed the coalition as a governance and accountability layer: legal staff will draft a joint resolution and bylaws, procurement directors will coordinate a single RFP process and awarded contracts would be dual contracts with each jurisdiction paying its portion. Leeds also recommended using a third‑party consultant to coordinate the advisory board and to evaluate grantee performance.

Officials pressed for speed: staff said the resolution and financial MOU could be finalized and placed on agendas in early June, with coalition appointments and a board stood up later in the second quarter. Chairman Beatty and several council members said they wanted the coalition in place and the dollars flowing soon so programs and services can begin receiving funds.