WEIRTON ­– The City of Weirton could be distributing more of its allotment of opioid funds in the coming days.

When Weirton Council convenes for its regular meeting at 7 p.m., Tuesday, members will be asked to consider two resolutions allocating a portion of the city’s West Virginia Opioid Settlement Funds.

The first resolution would allocate $240,000 to the WVU Hancock County Extension Service in support of the establishment of a prevention program assistant within the agency, with funding for three years.

The second resolution would provide $74,926.36 to the Weirton Police Department for the purchase of video surveillance equipment for both in-vehicle setups and in city neighborhoods “to abate the use of opioids via interdiction.”

Both proposals were recommended by the city’s Finance Committee Friday morning.

If approved Tuesday, it would be the second allotment of funds provided to the Weirton Police Department.

In March, the city awarded $211,654.85 for the purchase of two vehicles and equipment for use by the police department’s K-9 Division, as well as street-based video systems and license plate reader systems.

Weirton Council also has provided $277,555.10 to the Weirton Fire Department to purchase automated external defibrillators and a mechanical chest compression system, as well as fund any training related to the equipment.

In August, Northwood Health Systems were provided two allotments from the fund, with $66,000 to fund the addition of a peer recovery support specialist for the Weirton Assertive Community Treatment Team, and $82,964 to provide two years of wages and training for an outpatient peer recovery support services staff member.

Following the August resolutions, City Manager Mike Adams reported the city still had $723,000 of its opioid funds available.

If Tuesday’s resolutions are approved, it would leave just over $408,000 in the fund.

Guidelines for use of the funds are established through the West Virginia First Memorandum of Understanding, tasking organizations awarded such grants to put them toward either education, emergency services, prevention, intervention, or rehabilitation in combating the opioid crisis.

To be eligible, an applicant must be either a tax-exempt non-profit entity or a government entity, have an established history of addressing the issues related to opioid use or have undertaken projects related to one of the five categories.

City officials also may consider whether the proposed use may be better handled by another entity, the applicant’s track record and history, whether the applicant has alternative funding sources for their proposal, whether it is a one-time award or an ongoing expense, the level of involvement for the city, existing funding of similar programs and the applicant’s anticipated outcome for its proposed program.

Successful applicants also must provide the city quarterly, written updates on their program and use of funds.

The city’s application includes nine questions, asking for an applicant’s name, address and contact information, organizational officers, a description of the project, a cost estimate, a listing of other funding sources, how much is being requested from the city and how it will be used if awarded, and whether additional support from the city will be needed.

Each application will be reviewed by the city manager, or a designee, with awards requiring approval from Weirton Council.

(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)