The Carroll County Board of Supervisors approved the award of more than $100,000 in opioid settlement funds to three local organizations at its meeting on Monday. Carroll County Public Health Director Maggie Pauley, who also co-chairs the county’s opioid fund committee, says the group reviewed three applications last week. The first request was from the Recovery Center at Manning Regional Healthcare Center (MRHC) for $28,549 to purchase and build a “Hidden in Plain Sight” demonstration trailer.
The second request came from the Carroll County Ambulance Department for $55,257.70 for the purchase of a Stryker LIFEPAK, a transport ventilator, and a narcotic tracking software. The committee opted to fund half of the LIFEPAK and fully fund the other two items. Ambulance Director Jamie Wuebker says the funding will help first-responders better manage an opioid overdose.
Pauley says the final request was from New Opportunities to maintain prevention and treatment programs that they offer while new funding avenues are finalized with the new mental health redistricting and changes to federal resources.
Pauley adds this would be a one-time award for New Opportunities. Combined, the awards total $110,446.70, and the supervisors voted unanimously to approve all three funding requests. Supervisor Gene Meiners abstained from the New Opportunities vote because he sits on the organization’s board. With those awards accounted for, Carroll County still has approximately $220,000 in opioid settlement funds to award. The board did vote during Monday’s meeting to put $150,000 in Certificates of Deposit at local banks for seven months at 3.95 percent interest until future awards are approved.
