Council authorizes participation in opioid litigation settlements; city to receive payments

The Superior Common Council adopted a resolution on Aug. 19 authorizing the city to sign participation agreements with national opioid litigation settlements and to accept future similar agreements.

City Attorney Prowl told the council that Superior joined the national litigation in 2019 and that various corporate defendants have reached or are reaching settlement agreements with the plaintiff group. He said individual municipalities must sign participation agreements to receive their share of any settlement distributions.

When asked about the amount, Prowl said he could not forecast the final total but reported notice of three upcoming payments that together totaled approximately $1,011,000. Councilor Moffitt urged the council to plan how the funds would be used when they are received, suggesting the public safety and finance committees prepare a report and recommended spending priorities that align with the allowable uses for opioid settlement funds.

Council members discussed existing restrictions on eligible uses and the need to account for expenditures. The council approved the resolution by voice vote.