T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY - Marshall County Public Health Director Sydney Grewell addresses the board of supervisors about plans to use the county’s opiold settlement funds during Wednesday morning’s meeting.

During Wednesday morning’s meeting, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors gave approval on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for just over $44,000 worth of opioid settlement funds to be disbursed to the public health department.

Marshall County Public Health Director Sydney Grewell addressed the board and explained how the first round of funds would be used locally. According to the Iowa Attorney General’s Office, the state signed on to five new agreements with Teva and Allergan, as well as pharmacies CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens, in 2022, and up to $345 million is available to eligible subdivisions.

Grewell said the big project she intends to get off the ground with the funding is a trailer that will mimic a teenager’s bedroom in hopes of educating parents and guardians on how and where they hide drugs and paraphernalia. The plan, she added, is to work with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, local police departments and Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Another project the funds will finance is NARCAN training so that individuals can recognize an overdose and administer the lifesaving nasal spray, and the third and final aspect is a needle disposal dropbox.

The trailer, which is estimated to cost just over $10,000, will mimic a similar one already operating in Boone County, and the NARCAN distribution boxes will be present at events like the Central Iowa Fair, back to school nights and in the lead-up to homecoming and prom.

Grewell said the NARCAN training is relatively easy to complete and only requires watching a few short videos.

A motion from Supervisor Kevin Goodman to approve an interagency transfer for the funds passed by a 3-0 vote, and two related subsequent motions also received unanimous approval. County Auditor Nan Benson also commented that Grewell’s plans met “all of the criteria” for acceptable uses of the funds.

The county has around $600,000 in total funds available as a result of the settlement.

“They just keep sending money,” Benson said.

Board Chair Carol Hibbs added, however, that there are clear guidelines in place on how the funds can be spent, and Benson said County Attorney Jordan Gaffney and his team have been “very diligent” in ensuring that they are used properly.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.