County receives $368K opioid settlement payment

Wayne County’s 2023 opioid settlement is in the bank.

Commissioner Mary Anne Butters reported during the commissioners’ March 6 meeting that the county received a $368,260 payment consisting of its remaining 2023 distribution and an initial part of its 2024 distribution.

The county’s share is part of $44.7 million distributed by the state attorney general’s office to Indiana cities, towns and counties from settlements with opioid manufacturers, distributors and retailers for their roles in opioid abuse. The attorney general’s updated distribution estimates indicate Wayne County received $442,308.30 as its 2023 share and will receive $254,894.02 as its 2024 share.

Commissioner Jeff Plasterer said commissioners would further discuss March 13 their process to determine how the money will be distributed. Sheriff Randy Retter already discussed with commissioners opioid settlement money providing a navigator for jail inmates who would connect them with services to fight addiction.

Other Wayne County municipalities’ settlement shares as estimated by the attorney general’s office include:

• Boston, $329.11 in 2023 and $189.65 in 2024.
• Cambridge City, $13,949.73 and $8,038.94.
• Centerville, $20,258.94 and $11,674.88.
• Dublin, $2,979.69 and $1,717.16.
• East Germantown, $916.15 and $527.95.
• Economy, $441.77 and $254.59.
• Fountain City, $2,656.53 and $1,530.91.
• Greens Fork, $1,011.01 and $582.64.
• Hagerstown, $13,540.55 and $7,803.16.
• Milton, $32.62 and $18.78.
• Mount Auburn, $263.88 and $152.06.
• Richmond, $398,582.39 and $229,695.58.
• Spring Grove, $818.30 and $471.56.
• Whitewater, $171.95 and $99.10.

Other discussions

The Wayne County Fairgrounds has about $301,000 available for projects, including a $250,000 commitment of American Rescue Plan Act dollars and $61,622 remaining in the First Bank Richmond naming rights fund. First Bank contributes $100,000 annually of its $1 million overall commitment to the fund.

A project replacing the First Bank Expo Center’s HVAC system is nearing completion, and parking upgrades and storage for recently purchased tables and chairs top the commissioners’ priority list. Butters asked about the storage space and requested concurrent progress toward a caterer’s kitchen, saying consideration now could save further expense later.

In addition, Butters continues to advocate for improved showers at the fairgrounds.

Commissioners also discussed the 33 properties eligible for the April 25 deed sale. Commissioners must decide which properties they will accept title for, realizing that they must maintain the properties if they take ownership and the properties do not sell.

County council

Brandon Sanders, the county’s engineer, discussed with Wayne County Council on March 6 the expected funding shortfall for eight federally funded bridge projects. He first discussed the issue Feb. 28 with commissioners.

Despite rising costs since the Indiana Department of Transportation awarded the county project funding in 2018 and 2019, INDOT is unlikely to make additional funding beyond its original commitment available at least for its next two fiscal years. INDOT funded 80% — a total of $11,410,640 — of the original construction estimates.

Updated construction estimates are 32.3% higher than the original costs, leaving the county short an estimated $4,604,659. 

Council did not discuss where it would find additional bridge funding beyond Sanders’ plan to use leftover jail bond money for this year’s South G Street project. The jail bond money is being split between bridge and highway projects.

Sample Road, Heiney Road and Richmond Avenue bridge projects are scheduled for letting this year, with Bridge Avenue and Waterfall Road projects to let during 2025 and Fountain City Pike and Mulberry Street in Cambridge City projects to let during 2026.

During its meeting, council also appointed council member Max Smith to a stakeholder working group involved in the county’s emergency radio upgrade project that’s part of the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program.