By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission agreed this week to create a committee that will help direct funds Ellis County receives as a result of an opioid settlement between the state of Kansas and major pharmaceutical companies and related parties.
According to the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, the funds are a result of settlements the state of Kansas reached with several major pharmaceutical companies, distributors and other related companies. The attorney general’s office estimated the state will receive more than $340 million over 18 years.
A percentage of the funds is distributed directly to counties and cities in the state.
Ellis County Administrator Darin Myers said Ellis County has received more than $46,000 over the last two years. The amount of money and the number of payments the county receives varies.
They have not allocated any funds so far.
Ellis County District Court Administrator Mike Smith asked the commission Tuesday to create the committee to disburse the funds.
Smith told the commission that there is a number of uses for the funds.
“It’s county money. I don’t know that I should be solely in charge of that,” Smith said. “I like to have a committee to make sure that we are following the guidelines of the lawsuit.”
The committee will consist of Smith, Myers and Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun.
Smith said he believes there are a number of uses for the money, including area first responders, schools and other opioid prevention services.
That includes the Ellis County Drug Court.
The drug court is funded through grant funding, but Myers said there are some areas that could be boosted by the funding.
Smith said he has created a form that allows interested parties to submit requests that the committee will then go over to make sure they meet the requirements.
In other business, the commission approved purchasing a server for the county’s computer-aided dispatch and records management system for $49,000.
Approved the purchase of six tasers, a training suit and cartridges for $19,000. The funds come from previously donated funds from Jack Samples who passed away in 2023.
Approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation to replace a bridge six miles south of Walker on 370th Avenue over Big Creek. The local cost of the project is $43,000.
They also agreed to allow the new Western Kansas Training Coordinator for the Kansas Fire and Rescue Training Institute to use office space in the Emergency Services Building in Hays.
The commission also heard a presentation in opposition to the Biden administration's 30x30 plan and the National Trails Designation.