County approves using opioid-settlement funds to send mental health court team to All Rise conference

The Greene County commissioners approved a request to use restricted opioid-settlement funds to cover travel and attendance costs for the county's mental health court team to attend the All Rise conference in Nashville.

Nicole Knoll, who presented the request, said the training was "strongly recommended" as part of the court's certification and listed the proposed attendees as the judge, herself, the chief public defender, a prosecutor, probation/community corrections staff and two service providers. Knoll said she estimated costs based on prior conferences but that lodging prices were not yet finalized.

Commissioners approved the use of opioid funds for the trip. Knoll noted mileage and lodging were factors — "mileage pays 72¢ a mile now," a commissioner observed — and staff will finalize reservations when conference housing opens.

The transcript does not record a specific dollar total for the trip; Knoll provided an estimated budget in a memo circulated to the board. The approval used restricted opioid settlement funds consistent with the county's eligible uses, per Knoll's presentation.