Brooke County continues review of opioid funding requests
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WELLSBURG - Two years after first receiving their allotment, Brooke County officials continue to work on dividing up funds derived from a series of settlements related to lawsuits filed by the state against producers and distributors of pharmaceutical opioids.
During Tuesday’s meeting of the Brooke County Commission, Commission President Tom Diserio explained County Prosecutor Allison Cowden continues to review the submissions made, to date, to ensure they comply with terms of the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the county with the West Virginia First Foundation.
"Her office is reviewing the requests as they come in," Diserio said.
To date, Brooke County has received 10 applications, each seeking a portion of the approximately $1.1 million in opioid funds it has received.
Those requests, according to recurring agenda items before the commission, include:
$580,000 for the Brooke County Sheriff’s Department;
$159,784 for the Brooke County Health Department;
$125,000 for WVU Medicine;
A minimum of $120,550 made by county EMA/EMS Deputy Director Mike Loborec;
$20,000 for Easter Seals;
$374,015 for Empower and Link Inc.;
$295,000 requested by EMA/EMS Director Greg Moore;
$185,000 for Youth Services System Inc.;
$116,599 for Brooke County Firefighters Association;
$114,734.28 for the Bethany Police Department.
Moore and the Sheriff’s Department already have revised their requests, with other changes possibly being made.
"There are some changes out of the 10, I believe, that we have," Diserio said, noting some of the applications have needed to adjust the amount of funding requested or other details. "As soon as we get those back, we’re ready to move forward."
Diserio explained, once the revisions are made, commissioners plan to meet with representatives of each applying group or organization, and then will decide on the funds to be awarded.
The funding was derived through settlement agreements under lawsuits filed by the state against various producers and distributors of pharmaceutical opioids. Each county in West Virginia, along with numerous cities, signed on to the MOU in order to receive a share of any funds derived from those settlements.
The MOU – a 41-page document – outlines all of the acceptable uses for those awarded funds.