SPOKANE VALLEY — The Council unanimously approved the establishment of the Spokane Regional Opioid Abatement Council at their regular meeting on Aug. 29.
The purpose of the Opioid Abatement Council is to oversee monitoring, reporting, and dispute-resolution concerning how a municipality uses funds from the opioid settlements.
Spokane County has presented an agreement for all participating local governments in the Spokane Region, which includes Adams, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Spokane, and Stevens Counties, along with the City of Spokane Valley, Cheney, Liberty Lake, and City of Spokane. The abatement council created by the Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, meets the minimum requirements established by the One Washington MOU.
Each Participating Local Government will maintain full discretion of the funds distributed to it, provided the funds are used for “Approved Purposes.”
The City Council will remain responsible for distribution, although the City could work with Spokane County to contribute funding toward identified County projects.
Depending on the outcome of the settlement, the City will receive $147,106.76, less attorneys’ fees, over the course of 17 years and an additional $148,486.91, less attorneys’
Fees, over the course of 15 years in the case of Settlement II.
The abatement council will consist of one representative from each county and one representative from each city.
These participants must reserve 10% of the opioid funds received on an annual basis for administrative costs related to the abatement council’s responsibilities.
The City can elect not to retain its settlement funds. If this happens, the funds will be re-allocated
to Spokane County.
Lucas is a former Cheney Free Press managing editor. He is a nationally published author who contributes regularly to several publications across the country.
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