Community Corrections asks county to use opioid funds for recovery court testing and defense costs

Chris Anne Fipps, director of Community Corrections, asked Geary County to allocate opioid settlement funds to support the Geary County Recovery Court. She said the program conducts frequent, random drug tests — a minimum of three to four times per week and seven days a week coverage — and the testing supplies and lab costs are a major line item; she reported buying about $40,000 in tests recently to cover Geary and Dickinson counties' needs.

Fipps explained the program’s funding puzzle: state KDOC allocations cover officer salaries and some program staff but cannot be used to pay for defense attorneys, drug‑testing supplies and program incentives. She said the recovery court coordinates with Pony Mental Health and the sheriff’s office; the sheriff’s staff help observe weekend UAs and a detective participates on the recovery court team. Fipps said the program will hold its first graduations in September and is pursuing national best‑practice training for the team.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about budget timing (state vs. county fiscal years) and how the program partners to avoid gaps in services when participants are jailed or transitioning. No formal county action was recorded at the hearing; commissioners expressed support for the program and requested supplemental budget detail to evaluate opioid‑fund allocations.