Lyon County Commissioners have approved a supplemental resolution related to opioid litigation.
The supplemental resolution comes at the suggestion of the Kansas Attorney General’s office and follows the approval of a memorandum of understanding to participate in the Kansas Fights Addiction act on Dec. 2 of 2021. The act consolidates all opioid litigation within the state and assigns all claims, if any, to the AG’s office for potential settlement.
Participation in the act will allow the county to access funding garnered through litigation to provide opioid abuse treatment and prevention programs. Lyon County Commissioner Doug Peck, a former law enforcement officer, has stated before that to his knowledge opioid abuse has not been a rampant issue within Lyon County.
That being said, Peck notes that just because he did not observe a high level of opioid use during his time in law enforcement does not mean it is not taking place. He says the act is a good preventative tool to have in place in the event that opioid abuse was to suddenly spike within the local area.
Thursday’s action follows a recent announcement by the AG’s office that a multi-billion-dollar national settlement may lead to around $190 million coming to Kansas for addiction treatment and prevention.
Per House Bill 2079, the legislation that established the act, 75 percent of all funds received through opioid litigation will go to the state with 25 percent to be split amongst participating municipal governments. In order to receive these funds, municipalities must certify it has incurred more than $500 in costs related to substance abuse, agree to utilize any funds for approved purposes and waive any current or future claims to the opioid litigation.
In other business Thursday, commissioners officially rescinded a disaster declaration that was enacted back in January in response to the COVID-19 omicron wave. The declaration was needed in order for Newman Regional Health to access ventilators at the peak of the omicron wave.
Separately, commissioners also approved a resolution related to the county’s 2021 solid waste management plan, following similar action by Emporia City Commissioners from Wednesday evening, and approved a better than $45,000 payment for election equipment license fees and maintenance.
The Lyon County Commission will hold a special study session next Wednesday at 1 pm for non-elected personnel matters before reconvening for its weekly action session next Thursday at 9 am inside the Lyon County Courthouse Commission Chambers.
