12/12/2023 (3) - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Board of County Commissioners Meeting Minutes - Final December 12, 2023 U.B. 23-1115 Approval of Opioid Settlement Proceeds Recommended Action: The County Attorney's Office recommends that the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners discuss the recommended allotments made by the Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse and adopt the authorizing Resolution and authorize the Chairman to execute the Resolution on behalf of the Board. Attachments: Staff Report Resolution Schedules A and B from MOU with AG County Attorney Bill DeBraal informed the County would receive approximately $1.2 million in fiscal year 2023-24 from Opioid Settlement proceeds to be used for opioid use disorder treatment programs. The funds would be distributed, at the Board's direction, by the Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network (Southeast). In November 2023, the Board -created Public Safety Council for Criminal Justice, Mental Health and Substance Abuse (Council) heard presentations from groups requesting funds and recommended awarding the following organizations: Indian River County Sheriff, Substance Awareness Center, IRC Mental Health Collaborative, 19th Judicial Circuit Drug Court, and the Treasure Coast Homeless Council. Attorney DeBraal requested the Board's consideration of the recommendations. Chairman Adams questioned accountability, allocations and expressed concern over the seeming lack of a master plan for these funds over the next 18 years. Discussion ensued between the Board and Attorney DeBraal regarding allocations, measurable outcomes, and the need to ramp -up programs before evaluating them. The Chairman continued to express the need for an over -arching plan, and suggested giving funds to already -established programs. Vice Chairman Flescher, a member of the Council, discussed the justice system process drug addicts faced, the need to build dedicated treatment beds, and the presentations made before the Council which led to the decisions. In response to the Chairman's and Commissioner Loar's discomfort with limited information, a suggestion was made to have the awarded agencies appear before the Board with a short version of their presentations. It was noted there was a sense of urgency to start creating spaces to help treat addicts who would not otherwise receive assistance through the criminal justice system. Consensus was reached to table the item until the January 9, 2024 Board meeting when the five (5) agencies would appear before the Board to present their plans for the funds. Staff was requested to provide the Commissioners with background information ahead of the next meeting. Indian River County Florida Page 15