Email from Calhoun County

From the Thursday, September 5, 2024, Calhoun County Board of Commissioners Meeting

In New Business the Board of Commissioners approved the 2024 Opioid Settlement Funds Appropriation awarding up to $600,000 to eight community organizations to aid in opioid prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery. The Commissioners also approved the selection of a contractor to implement grant-funded jail security and technology enhancements and the use of the Calhoun County Public Health Department’s Strengthening Public Health Workforce and Infrastructure state grant award to implement operational and capital projects funded by the grant.

During the Special Order of Business, Medical Examiner Dr. Patrick Hansma gave a presentation of the Medical Examiners Office 2023 Annual Report.

On the Consent Agenda, Commissioners approved the following:

Updated Bylaws and Intergovernmental Agreement of the Michigan Works! Southwest Workforce Development Board, 2024-2026 and Michigan Works! Southwest Workforce Development Board Reappointments

To view the agenda or meeting recording, visit the Agendas page of the website.

A Message from Calhoun County Administrator/Controller Kelli Scott

Thanks to the amazing work of the County’s Opioid Settlement Fund Steering Committee, assisted by the Michigan Association of Counties’ technical advisor Amy Dolinky, eight community organizations will be receiving instrumental funding totaling up to $600,000 for evidence-based initiatives to fight opioid abuse. These projects include everything from education and training to outreach and awareness and increasing capacity and collaboration for future expansion of services.

As of now, Calhoun County has received $3.6 million from numerous national opioid settlements. Over the next 18 years, the total expected settlement funds are projected to be nearly $12 million, with an annual average of $700,000. Each year, the County determines the amount available for community RFP awards, taking into account internal opioid remediation service needs.

I’d like to recognize the team of nearly 25 community leaders who have taken the time and dedicated themselves to come together to examine data, identify priorities, and ensure an equitable Request for Proposal process for this first community-wide distribution to have the greatest positive impact on our residents.

During the August 19th Board of Health (BOH) meeting, the County’s Health Department FY25 budget was recommended for further approval by the Board of Commissioners ahead of the Department’s October 1 fiscal year start. The School Wellness Program (SWP) was also highlighted in an educational presentation at the meeting. The SWP is an important public health service offered within the community. For example, the school nurses provide Battle Creek Public School staff Medical Emergency Response Training that includes CPR and First Aid and ensure that schools reach their immunization deadline which maximizes school funding.

The FireKeepers Local Revenue Sharing Board (FLRSB) met on August 20 and approved $439,263 in discretionary grant funding for 25 local government projects to support public safety, college scholarships, public infrastructure and other essential services, many of which will have lasting positive impacts for our residents and visitors. County Board Chair Derek King serves as the County’s representative on the FLRSB. The Board has concluded its allocation process for 2024, and will meet next in early 2025 after receipt of the annual 2% Net Win payment from electronic gaming at FireKeepers Casino Hotel.

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