Board authorizes $1,000 in opioid-settlement funds for outreach, considers delegated spending threshold

The Isanti County Board on Sept. 1 approved a resolution to authorize up to $1,000 in opioid-settlement funds for community awareness, advertising and outreach aimed at opioid and substance-use prevention.

Jody Donaire, Isanti County Health and Human Services Director, told the board the funds would be used for boosted online advertising for an RFP expected in 2026, promotion of the county's new substance-use recovery network (ICERN), and supplies for community events such as Operation Community Connect. "I am here today to request approval of $1,000 in opioid settlement funds to support community awareness, education, engagement, and outreach activities related to opioid and substance use prevention," she said.

Commissioners asked about statutory or memorandum-of-understanding limits on spending and suggested creating a delegated threshold (examples discussed ranged from $2,500 to $5,000) so routine, compliant expenditures could proceed without waiting for board approval. Donaire said the county is governed by an MOU signed when the county opted into the opioid settlement and that all expenditures must be accounted for; she agreed to return with language for a possible delegated-approval amount for board action.

Motion by Commissioner Christiansen, second by Commissioner LaRoe to approve the resolution authorizing up to $1,000 passed on a voice vote. The board noted prior oversight by an advisory group and that future procedure changes would be researched and returned for formal action.

Why it matters: These funds support prevention and recovery outreach in the county; establishing a delegated threshold could speed execution of routine, small-dollar outreach activities while maintaining required oversight.