Rowan County officials said they are hard at work to disperse opioid settlement funds to causes and programs that will help the community heal and grow.
The money was allocated to counties after multi-million-dollar settlements with companies charged with worsening the opioid epidemic. In Rowan County, officials said they plan for some funds to go toward a new school resource officer, organizational partnerships, and more.
Cecil Watkins, the Rowan County Attorney, said statewide guidance can be unclear and some counties have been reprimanded for inappropriate use of these funds. Watkins added he is being especially careful when deciding how the money will be dispersed.
“I’m sure there are going to be other people that haven’t applied that deserve the money that’s appropriate and falls within the guidelines. And that’s my biggest push right now. I don’t want to have to pay any of this money back. I want to make sure that we do it the right way,” said Watkins.
The fiscal court recently recommended and approved the hiring of a school resource officer at Rowan County High School who will also conduct educational anti-drug programming. More than $130,000 will also be used on a partnership between UK St Claire, Frontier Housing, and D.O.V.E.S of Gateway to support people fleeing situations involving drug abuse. Watkins also aims to fund a new vehicle to carry incarcerated people in the county to and from their jobs as part of the county’s second chance program.
Watkins said officials look for certain characteristics when programs apply for opioid abatement funds.
“How many people is it going to actually help? Is it a for-profit or non-profit organization? They’re required to submit yearly budgets, so we look at need-based also,” said Watkins. “Are they going to be doing something new, innovative? Is it something we don’t already have?”
Watkins said nothing can take away the harm the opioid epidemic caused eastern Kentucky, but he hopes public programs like these will help propel the community forward.
Applications for opioid abatement funds are open on a rolling basis, available on the Rowan County Fiscal Court website at rcky.us.