Commission approves framework for annual opioid‑settlement grants, directs staff to draft interlocal with county

Assistant City Manager Sean Hennessy outlined a spending framework July 14 for opioid‑settlement funds the city has received under national settlements with opioid manufacturers. Hennessy said the city has accumulated about $476,000 in combined city/county settlement receipts and staff proposes a standing structure to award grants annually from the joint funds.

Hennessy said the plan proposes four priority areas identified in a county study: improve access to treatment and services; expand prevention, education and awareness; reduce stigma; and strengthen support for people in recovery. The framework would create an interlocal agreement with Saline County and a seven‑member review committee (four city representatives, three county) to solicit, review and approve grants. Staff modeled an annual spend target near $100,000 so the combined funds would support awards through 2038 under current receipt projections.

The city’s proposed allotment would include a $20,000 annual allocation related to law‑enforcement‑adjacent activities and $35,000 for study‑priority grants, with the remainder available to grant applicants in the four focus areas. Hennessy emphasized award amounts would depend on actual settlement receipts, which can vary year to year.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the outline and directed staff to draft an interlocal agreement with Saline County and begin appointing the grant committee. Hennessy said the county commission had already approved a consistent structure.

Why it matters: settlement funds are restricted by purpose and the city and county sought a governance approach to ensure oversight and consistent annual awarding rather than ad‑hoc spending. The committee would review applications, track reporting, and manage award decisions.

Next steps: staff will draft an interlocal agreement, the city and county will appoint committee members, staff will issue a grant solicitation, and the committee will review applications and recommend awards on an annual schedule.