[{"_1":2,"_109":-5,"_110":-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",6166707,"mediaKeyId","5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156","parentId",5415101,"title","Committee debates bylaws, asks for more citizen representation and school/sheriff designee options","audioSeconds",1002,"startMs",2368000,"endMs",3370000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156&start=2368&end=3370","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156/thumbnail_2368000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6166707/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Committee-debates-bylaws-asks-for-more-citizen-representation-and-schoolsheriff-designee-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166707-ab7c4b8b0f501f01f2a7823538790f5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507633&Signature=mTdTcBWtkiMq7PKWNLLy8mUA9Dxl6dR7S3GCavukKWGJiie1Pe-TCIbUb6O-b4luiwrib4kY1vyTxJKOuye3J~cINwX3ZyP2TCbfYEB2Nm~ahSNgsAB8m98iSzynwmMmzrfMLJyUwLHpXfO6GGfC8wspKNdl2r4~mTUmN-0nX53Xj1u4wRKx4lC0QS9t5tnx8i0Qp0ROY1dEJRCYlED9dWoQW8DMEW5VhzgWTSPV96jUExgvkHCWWUCUA0QdA71lpTzEwTZRpBK75gLrv2Dvqw3bJ8WxpxWgTYptmD3IUtelPgAg3TYFELZ12WiO0BBWio6UbYTuzMYUY~z4ZjMBXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sumner County, TN","date","2025-07-18T02:49:05.33Z","article","Committee members spent a substantial portion of the July 16 meeting debating proposed bylaw language governing membership, terms and representation for the Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee.

Key points of debate included:
- Commissioner representation: Some members suggested reducing the number of county commissioners on the committee and increasing citizen representation (for example, regional citizen seats), arguing that citizens can devote more time to site visits and prevention work. Other members said multiple commissioners are useful to explain the program to the full commission and to provide government continuity.
- Sheriff representation: Members discussed whether the sheriff should serve personally or appoint a designee to ensure consistent attendance. Several speakers said they would defer to the sheriff’s judgment about a knowledgeable designee from the sheriff’s office or drug task force.
- School representation: Several members advocated either a school board member or a school district prevention staff designee to ensure prevention programming and school needs are integrated into the committee’s work. Prevention staff present said school prevention coordinators already partner with the coalition and would be well‑placed to advise on school outreach.

Process and next steps
Committee members agreed not to make final bylaw changes at the meeting. Instead they asked members to submit their proposed edits to committee staff in writing, and several members said they would gather examples from other counties (including membership percentages and prevention/treatment allocation formulas) to present at the committee’s next meeting.

Why it matters: the committee sets priorities and grant review criteria; membership and bylaws determine who shapes those decisions and how prevention, treatment and law‑enforcement perspectives are balanced.

Ending: The committee deferred final votes on bylaw changes to a future meeting and asked staff to compile members’ written proposals for discussion as the next step.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Opioid Abatement Committee Table 7/16/25","oneSentenceSummary","Members discussed changes to the Opioid Abatement Committee’s bylaws, including membership size, the number of county commissioners on the panel, and whether the sheriff should send a designee. The committee deferred final action and asked members to submit written suggestions before the next meeting.","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},6166711,"Sumner committee earmarks $500,000 in opioid funds for Recovery Court renovation; project budget and scope debated",184,1602000,1786000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156&start=1602&end=1786","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156/thumbnail_1602000.jpg","/articles/6166711/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Sumner-committee-earmarks-500000-in-opioid-funds-for-Recovery-Court-renovation-project-budget-and-scope-debated","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166711-2bbcc5dff47e5f4ca96fcdb10f2d717b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507633&Signature=J0964RosvQzGVKpQEPwDWQe5UcGKjGjXJGrajI8WJJHAgFHw~QPpV~aMw-FDzSrc~unxoueWNhjbYnKgu34D3DWJPA1JyfoCxDh7MKJnaEtnW6zwzUjc1pT0oyZIWrjACr9OcP6PO0244x0tJLO-5ocVLRthC83Iqel~V6lDyMdZsYL4eNNS5DN06m2kBk2JgYNaQSsBRXvQ911vk9c18SJCLCTOgtucH5yeQB0E6LtIPCsb4b95Psh3pSH3nQpZubLhKK0omE0pzE0FCtDi49KfkMmSXxJJq~qTJeL0B2C5cGCgM6FWTpWqedP7Akg-KySejlGX3ms9VXv-AziI9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee on July 16 approved earmarking $500,000 in opioid settlement funds for a Recovery Court renovation project and discussed project scope, funding sources and procurement safeguards.

Funding breakdown discussed in the meeting included:
- $500,000 proposed from opioid settlement funds for Judge Blanton’s Recovery Court project (committee motion approved).
- $132,000 identified from a nonprofit Recovery Court organization that had previously been approved to retain funds for the project.
- An approximate $150,000 allocation already present in the draft operating budget for architectural fees.

Staff and members repeatedly emphasized that although the county has an existing interior space with basic infrastructure (bathrooms, drywall), architects’ estimates could push total costs into the $700,000–$800,000 range. Committee staff said the RFP will include language allowing the county to reduce project scope if bids come in above the county’s stated willingness to pay.

Why it matters: the renovation is a capital project using settlement funds that were intended for opioid abatement. Committee members pressed for clarity about which funding buckets are restricted and what flexibility the county has if bid prices exceed the earmarked amounts.

Key discussion points
- Budget sources and arrangement: staff explained the county holds some Recovery Court not‑for‑profit funds in a retained account on the nonprofit’s behalf so pay apps can be processed. That mechanism, staff said, is intended to protect the nonprofit from cash‑flow timing issues while preserving accountability over disbursements.
- Scope‑reduction protections: staff said the RFP will include a provision allowing scope reduction if the low bid exceeds the county’s allocation; one staff member said the RFP will not necessarily publish a specific dollar threshold but will preserve the county’s right to reduce scope if needed.
- Concerns from commissioners: several commissioners questioned a $700,000+ estimate for a space they characterized as substantially built out; staff responded that architectural review indicated plans did not map exactly to the existing building and that some structural or code work may be required.

Action taken
The committee approved earmarking the $500,000 and directed staff to proceed with procurement language that allows scope reductions if bids exceed available funds. Members also asked staff to keep the committee apprised of budget transfers needed to make the project timely and to provide quarterly drawdown statements to Recovery Court partners.

Ending: Staff said funds will remain time‑stamped and that the budget passage will determine the schedule for initial pay apps and procurement; the committee set follow‑up reporting requirements to ensure transparency of expenditures.","The committee agreed to earmark $500,000 in opioid settlement funds for a Recovery Court renovation, confirmed additional funding sources including $132,000 from a not‑for‑profit partner and $150,000 in the draft budget for architectural fees, and instructed the RFP to include scope‑reduction clauses if bids exceed the available budget.",{"_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},6166716,"High Point Health recovery navigator reports growing caseload, distributes ‘Box of Hope’ across Sumner County",141,218000,359000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156&start=218&end=359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156/thumbnail_218000.jpg","/articles/6166716/Sumner-County/Tennessee/High-Point-Health-recovery-navigator-reports-growing-caseload-distributes-Box-of-Hope-across-Sumner-County","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166716-bd69a00b243a062c6e33ee14ac173d0f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507633&Signature=R6W1RpaU1o460AJGkrFd7CFriN4MlOqAeRQpH~TPPa9iTuCGninUIc41-JD26twIKp3PnByo7an0D55ba-1Go~RO4DJSHoov7JD0n6PAElstKTLTy-Ds9Z9X12EpNZSp5kNMj2y18c13u4HlQ5eeU3aZpYPUgSGRAR~EqZ0p5jlQCYVZJLqt6fcujEKnV7m0VNeWFXAPrUodScva3UdXpPg8ZZpe8NxaNdrp0-UTtQW7kA4gq-nYnyb93mmZLHAmjvZkrLK03ZoL3wP1FwLd9Wdvj8u0bnHqbnvC-SMR9trfEwlbPUFKy43W7WQv5zhhOBglrw6gA9BueeWrdUwG2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Justin Werlick, the recovery navigator funded by Sumner County and based at High Point Health, briefed the Opioid Abatement Committee on July 16 about his outreach and referral work.

Werlick described a rising caseload and on‑the‑ground activities. \"The first month was May. I saw 29. Then last month, it went up to 39,\" he told the committee, adding that the program had its official rollout the month before and that staff huddles across hospital floors had increased referrals. Werlick said he refers 40 to 50 percent of people he sees to treatment and that the figure has been roughly 40 percent across recent months.

Werlick described program activities that include: distributing Narcan at the hospital; assembling and distributing a \"Box of Hope\" containing Narcan, county resources, and referral information; serving patients in the emergency department, inpatient units and a women's center; and following up with treatment providers if the client signs a release so the navigator can confirm engagement.

On scope and scheduling, Werlick said he is scheduled Monday–Friday, roughly 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and that case managers and hospital social workers handle referrals outside those hours; he said he follows weekend referrals during the next business week. He also said he had connected with the state recovery navigator to streamline referrals to residential placements and that some area hospitals lack a dedicated navigator position.

Why it matters: committee members and commissioners cited the navigator position as one of the program’s most successful elements and discussed whether the county could sustain the position if opioid settlement revenues decline. Committee members said they would pursue state and hospital support if county funding becomes limited.

Questions raised: commissioners asked whether the \"Box of Hope\" items are centrally stored or issued only to people Werlick sees; Werlick said the prevention coalition and case managers can also distribute boxes and flyers. Commissioners also asked whether patients must present at the emergency department to be referred; Werlick said he can be contacted directly and has met with at least one person outside the emergency department in a private area to provide resources.

Ending: Committee members praised the navigator's early results and asked staff to continue reporting caseload and referral metrics to the committee as part of grant performance tracking.","Justin Werlick, the county‑funded recovery navigator based at High Point Health, told the Opioid Abatement Committee he has increased patient contacts since May and helps connect people to treatment, distributes Narcan, and coordinates a ‘Box of Hope’ resource package.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":91,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":94,"_51":105,"_53":106,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":107,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":108,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6166721,"Sumner County committee reallocates leftover opioid grant funds, approves contract language and extensions",650,868000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5415101-b984a89ea3453c1163ee70a23ac91156&start=218&end=868","/articles/6166721/Sumner-County/Tennessee/Sumner-County-committee-reallocates-leftover-opioid-grant-funds-approves-contract-language-and-extensions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6166721-66b40a67092d9ed58829ad57936ab92b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770507633&Signature=buI1xKSGkAzGTTEX30tbnIrbiU7PWM16X~C7nYpbtX~1mLwDg8C9-7p4LzXR-yoZz9Ju6jjFqtsGHwk74FQpA6O7e7K1Uq9E5nL3VqhBC49dzggJNPxtFVsApbAgNPLBRngW0RTTK3Ivl-kqTWZ3Zqnubu9Y5l7TtgMroFliMPltO0PyJcad2W9tggrkkcCI6MGtSUkK0JQSA9lcFVd5zyNKsN2vN2~q5Hk1jMWFKpiaqwClyupkWDiNIpx-1s59O9tcDXV20Pk812pTsSId8s3CAeGcn6RkXLg260zZPyGPORfo-cQReqNTTRteD4OutOHed5LpxCzU54~HV3Ulsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee on July 16 approved measures to reallocate unspent grant funds from its first grant cycle, add an acknowledgement clause to grant contracts and extend two existing contracts through June 30, 2027.

Committee staff reported that $93,274.81 remained unspent after the first grant cycle and that some individual grantees had returned or failed to draw down portions of awards; the committee said it would reallocate those amounts into the grant pipeline. Assistant Budget Director Beth Browning was identified in discussion as working with staff to move the funds into different cycles to allow larger awards in the next round, targeted for November.

Why it matters: the county manages multiple streams of opioid settlement money with differing restrictions. Committee members said the state’s scheduled, restricted payments are reasonably visible for the near term, while the less‑restricted revenue stream — dependent on private settlements and company contributions — is uncertain.

What the committee decided and discussed
- Reallocation: Committee staff outlined a plan to move $93,274.81 of unspent grants into the grant pipeline. Specific moves described in the meeting included reallocating funds from grant cycle 2 into cycle 3 to free up awards in the next round.
- Contract language: Members voted to add a clause to contracts requiring that, where feasible and appropriate, materials and advertising state that the activity “is supported by opioid settlement funds.” That motion passed with all voting members present.
- Contract extensions: The committee voted to extend contracts for Recovery Court, Inc., and the Sumner Prevention Coalition to a new term ending June 30, 2027. The extension motion passed but drew two abstentions and one recorded “no.” The committee agreed that individual contracts are held and executed in the county legal/finance process.

Budget outlook and caveats discussed
Committee members and staff discussed two separate “buckets” of money: restricted settlement funds (which staff said have a predictable three‑year schedule and were estimated at roughly $500,000–$600,000 over the next three years) and less‑restricted money, which staff said is affected by bankruptcy filings and pending court outcomes. Staff said additional money from ongoing settlements (including a family settlement linked to Purdue) was expected to flow to the state and could increase county allocations, but timing and amounts were uncertain.

Staff also said some previously awarded grant dollars were not drawing down because grantees could not meet the spending or reporting requirements. Staff said the county intends to work with grantees to use scholarship funds or other mechanisms to expend previously awarded amounts before reallocating them.

Dissent and outstanding questions
Several commissioners pressed for clearer advertising and outreach plans so the public knows where to go for help; others asked for transparency on how reallocated funds will be prioritized in the next grant cycle. Committee members also requested that staff return with a written plan showing precisely how the $93,274.81 and the identified returned funds from Cumberland Heights Foundation and others will be moved across cycles.

Next steps
Staff will work with the county’s legislative office to draft an Opioid Awareness Month resolution and with legal and finance staff to finalize contract language and execute the extended contracts. Staff also said they will present revised grant application materials and the reallocation accounting when the committee reconvenes.

Ending note: Committee members flagged the difference between restricted and less‑restricted settlement proceeds and emphasized that continuing uncertainty about contribution streams will shape grant size and duration in coming years.","The Sumner County Opioid Abatement Committee voted to reallocate unspent grant money from the first grant cycle, add contract language acknowledging opioid settlement funding, and extend two contracts through June 30, 2027, while members flagged long‑term uncertainty about less‑restricted settlement revenues.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee debates bylaws, asks for more citizen representation and school/sheriff designee options

Sumner committee earmarks $500,000 in opioid funds for Recovery Court renovation; project budget and scope debated

High Point Health recovery navigator reports growing caseload, distributes ‘Box of Hope’ across Sumner County

Sumner County committee reallocates leftover opioid grant funds, approves contract language and extensions