[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6166708,"mediaKeyId","5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195","parentId",5415100,"title","Committee debates membership makeup and term limits as grant program evolves","audioSeconds",414,"startMs",2516000,"endMs",2930000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195&start=2516&end=2930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195/thumbnail_2516000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6166708/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Committee-debates-membership-makeup-and-term-limits-as-grant-program-evolves","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166708-3d8bfc70711da700b91e90f2a16480a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511888&Signature=KwmfrsaFWs~Iig-5DgHBRjzbxD9y3ZEEjo04XO~65XrM5hHth0DAOAAjG0URqkQljXkqsI3YgfpCA3kQsxLIKqpYfpKOUlpKeH46R0Bxz4roNE-ijCicVA46vURsb1JbikVdn83dhWAymQ0xQK1MX0CDbRD8QlVDRWa1NhITKHH83K98GUrO5JH86jrW1tanttmJ6RM1ZLm7Wh8Ub~bkw6Ieq-rQP~SfqEkglDHkZfBDO35Ln-3ErMWm0JTLoXmTCs7IL0v7iJvooyDopxLzfv~cLt~dOknFQKwbCddOGT-GHY20fvuUgRjeJ16biewkJXWXHLmzZHcTt7WYUUraww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sumner County, TN","date","2025-07-18T02:48:58.84Z","article","At the July 18 Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee meeting, members spent substantial time reviewing proposed membership, term and duty language in draft bylaws and discussed whether the committee should reduce the number of elected officials on the committee and increase citizen representation.
One member proposed replacing four commissioner slots with citizen representatives (one from north, south, east and west county) while keeping one county commissioner from the budget committee; supporters said this would broaden community input and reduce government overhead. Other members argued that multiple commissioners are important because they represent constituents and can speak directly to the full county commission when action is required.
Members discussed whether the sheriff should serve personally or be allowed to appoint a designee (for example, a member of a drug task force or an SRO designee). Several members said they would defer to the sheriff’s judgment on an appropriate designee and emphasized the value of a knowledgeable, available representative rather than mandating a particular title.
Committee members asked staff to focus first on membership composition rather than deeper operational changes and to bring suggested membership language back for consideration; staff asked members to submit written suggestions prior to the next meeting. The committee did not change bylaws at the July 18 meeting but agreed to keep the matter as old business and revisit it when members provide written proposals.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Opioid Abatement Committee (Cam2) 7/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","Members of the Opioid Abatement Committee debated changing membership from primarily commissioners toward more citizen appointees, term lengths, and whether the sheriff should appoint a designee to the panel; staff asked members to submit written proposals for membership changes.","taxTitle","Sumner County, Tennessee","taxId",19115,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166713,"Committee backs contract language, reviews $500,000 renovation and $132,000 nonprofit funds for recovery court space",223,1560000,1783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195&start=1560&end=1783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195/thumbnail_1560000.jpg","/articles/6166713/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Committee-backs-contract-language-reviews-500000-renovation-and-132000-nonprofit-funds-for-recovery-court-space","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166713-1c054bd2e52bb0c3eca0fde54fd3eb5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511888&Signature=eibw9YvzTFGc7PxHim7LTw5mwobaTzo2o3-YSnUIY8RhbhFkbPR6nAXrPMGwVJvB62BrCmJq569yxEHV-8ZTZHSLfdRM3895bf3bHQkTQgddcVM0qlc2viokOGvb3IQiCfzGBP5sM9nKtprHkX0XkhJtGUX4DSOeDwqYFBWHvcCVFEgN7sjO5Ji--sG~UVEQQlBENmNmUC8oPzOzp0w-5N4lj5qYEjcbqrh4II1oWOyT-0mgA1OijeCBsc5PEbutD0oZBc1TnL0WJ-xswnFAvpUiWlST0~zuvAyGGs-TbSnAJ1TozGEgO9bnIJ~Q-CnVNvH5imisNtJ~wWm9t1pDJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the July 18 Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee meeting, staff sought committee direction on renovation funding and contract terms for a recovery court facility and related nonprofit build-out.
Staff said $500,000 was being requested from opioid settlement funds to renovate the recovery court space (referred to in the meeting as Judge Plant/Blanton’s project) and that an additional $132,000 had been proposed for a recovery-court nonprofit to support build-out. Staff said the budgeted architect fee and total project cost could run in the $700,000–$800,000 range according to preliminary vendor input.
Staff told the committee no architect had been assigned and that the county will include language in the RFP and contracts stating that if bids come in over budget the county reserves the right to reduce project scope. That provision, staff said, will allow the county to contract while protecting fiscal limits. Staff also said contracts are being drafted and reviewed by legal and that the committee can consider two-year contract terms for nonprofits and coalition partners to allow for project delays.
Committee members pressed for access to the full contract text prior to final approval; one member asked for the documents to be included in meeting packets. Members also discussed whether the $500,000 and $132,000 awards were in restricted settlement accounts and how retained funds for nonprofit drawdowns would be handled. Staff said funds were in different restricted buckets and that recovery-related nonprofit funds could be held by the county and dispersed as invoices and draws are approved.
Staff did not present a final executed contract at the July 18 meeting; the committee approved adding verbiage that media or outreach items funded by these grants should include a statement that materials are supported by opioid settlement funds. The committee asked staff to return with full contract drafts and clarified procurement steps before final contract execution.","County staff briefed the Opioid Abatement Committee on planned renovations to a recovery court facility, a proposed $500,000 county allocation plus $132,000 for a nonprofit build‑out, contract extensions and procurement safeguards if bids exceed estimates.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166718,"Committee reviews unused opioid settlement grant dollars; staff proposes reallocations to open next grant round",422,864000,1286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195&start=864&end=1286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195/thumbnail_864000.jpg","/articles/6166718/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Committee-reviews-unused-opioid-settlement-grant-dollars-staff-proposes-reallocations-to-open-next-grant-round","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166718-dbdcd74d9eee2935d85b5809d73d3913/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511888&Signature=jB9K7RkNKwgeB9oJRBlN0udrBZQmvpq7h2Bj3zZBMbPK4-TbVAqPY4jxw29HsI01j2a6ZNYGpcJ2-licY~qZ-NnJGwWMbcbpoFcJJt4MlycqTwSFuFGQtg0KoG4L8sIsaJrnmI2mKyZ8pijScc78lSWHbPT9poi6LOqW46C08R-p0DUPPDTOpiRa2JMTtUMLtvC3rifvmic8yTP7h19bA-1ImXKr3QPI4sJCRTVZvUjpgmMCicwqhmmowR2NLTX0v2uWP7~UgRcSDna-hs0bJ6t-wQPJPoo0CXO3Pu41IPwb0SzGYxlk1pyUeUWNREOhaxH7hHTJLbi50tS-H-8PGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the July 18 Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee meeting, staff told members that some first-cycle grantees did not exhaust awarded funds and that staff plan to reallocate those unspent amounts into later grant cycles to preserve overall funding availability.
Staff reported that Cumberland Heights Foundation and another provider submitted partial invoicing or limited reporting and left funds unspent; staff said one grantee left approximately $12,000 unspent and another left about $44,736 unspent because of trouble locating county residents who met program criteria. Staff said those unspent amounts will be reallocated into the county’s grant-management pipeline and that one organization — Cumberland Heights Foundation — had been awarded an additional $50,000 contingent on the county operating budget approval.
Committee members asked how the grantees were advertising and noted that some local hospitals and community organizations do not have a dedicated navigator position like High Point’s. Staff said outreach is occurring through hospitals and the prevention coalition, and that staff intend to expand advertising including billboards and movie-theater ads if grant funds and a planned health-department application are approved.
Staff described settlement revenue uncertainty: some payments to the state and localities are scheduled and predictable over a three-year span, but other settlement sources remain contingent on bankruptcies and further litigation outcomes. Staff said county projections for restricted settlement receipts are roughly $500,000–$600,000 in certain near-term spans but that other revenue streams are less certain.
Staff proposed swapping or reallocating funds among internal “buckets” (restricted and unrestricted accounts) to ensure payroll and program continuity, including keeping a small amount to cover the current navigator salary for an additional two to three years. Members asked whether organizations that failed to submit required reporting would be eligible for future rounds; staff said organizations that did not submit required documents for the first cycle would be ineligible in the next round unless they corrected the deficiency before application deadlines.
No formal changes to eligibility criteria or funding caps were adopted at the meeting; staff said they will return with revised application materials for the next grant cycle and with proposals for advertising spend and outreach options.","County staff reported several grantees left funds unspent from the first grant cycle and described plans to reallocate those dollars into later grant cycles and to increase future award sizes. Members discussed advertising, billboards and sustainability of settlement revenue streams.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166723,"County-funded recovery navigator reports rising referrals, about 40% start formal treatment",180,186000,366000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195&start=186&end=366","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415100-8daeac6d9218e7d42b6e4f12361dd195/thumbnail_186000.jpg","/articles/6166723/Sumner-County/Tennessee/County-funded-recovery-navigator-reports-rising-referrals-about-40-start-formal-treatment","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166723-251981dbe100d617d09dc5be1f53e204/orig.mp4?Expires=1770511888&Signature=X8rAV3HpcpCP2LZeLeCnzbsP0oqHi-B-GXwFLLwi6vVqoHqfQv8oXpbJAj29UeQJ7b5YmvZozpUm0A5dLK0Kn1DQr7L5fxstYPjXqUiINicI2vIALf7TtPSMHSRaNZQATwioB03FVnRKQVtspRdDpZW5mo5R8d6isNkIrhJ72y1l~z3sD8-1okC7OqKzp6p4il9RgJalIVZHVGNvMtlRgUZ7-tTtDKKryQOcyq1c2Hk8LjNhb2a41qZJRa4eiDlZ~R8cQ92wzJzjMXSang3wKI8JuhryxbVsXj4Wy7kOEnh2DcO3NUiusH4UfkH8jhXPRwQXi8w6LHgD2681VZqrrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a July 18 meeting of the Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee, a recovery navigator funded by the county described program outreach at High Point Health and said referrals to formal treatment have increased since the program’s May rollout.
Justin Werlick, identified in the meeting as the county-funded recovery navigator affiliated with High Point Health / Summit Regional, told the committee his caseload has grown since May and that about 40% of patients he refers have been set up for and entered treatment, based on screenings and follow-up checks with treatment centers.
The program places Narcan and recovery-resource materials into \"Box of Hope\" kits that Werlick said are being distributed in the hospital’s emergency department, inpatient units and the women's center. Werlick said he also receives referrals from outpatient primary care providers and follows up by phone and appointment-setting during his weekday hours.
Committee members asked about hours and coverage; Werlick said he works weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and that weekend contacts are handled by case managers who pass referrals for his follow-up. Werlick said the program’s official rollout last month increased visibility and that he has seen a rise in case counts: an early month figure he described as in the high 20s to high 30s and “about 20 so far” in the current month, with variability around weekend staffing and board outreach efforts.
Werlick described how \"referred to treatment\" is defined operationally: a completed screening, acceptance by a treatment provider and an appointment or direct handoff that the navigator or a partner confirms. He said several local treatment centers have agreed to provide feedback when referred patients arrive, allowing him to confirm linkage in some cases.
Committee members asked whether individuals must present to the emergency department to access the navigator; Werlick said people can contact him directly by phone and staff can provide his contact information if they do not see him in person.
The committee discussed expanding the Box of Hope placement to other hospitals in the region and ensuring other local hospitals without a dedicated navigator receive materials or referral pathways. Werlick said he has met state recovery navigator Kevin Matthews and that local coordination is under way.
Committee members expressed support for the navigator position and discussed long-term funding questions for the role if settlement revenues change; Werlick and staff said they are pursuing state funding and conversations with hospital leadership about sustaining the position if county grant dollars are reduced.
The committee did not take formal action on the navigator position during the meeting; members said they would continue to discuss funding and program coordination in upcoming meetings.","Sumner County-funded recovery navigator at High Point Health described outreach, a Narcan \"Box of Hope\" initiative and early program metrics showing rising referrals and roughly 40% of referred patients entering treatment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee debates membership makeup and term limits as grant program evolves

Committee backs contract language, reviews $500,000 renovation and $132,000 nonprofit funds for recovery court space

Committee reviews unused opioid settlement grant dollars; staff proposes reallocations to open next grant round

County-funded recovery navigator reports rising referrals, about 40% start formal treatment