The Kane County Ad Hoc Opioid Settlement Fund Committee on May 1 approved $1,000,227 in construction funding to complete a forensics laboratory intended to expand local testing capacity for opioids, including fentanyl, and rapid DNA analysis.

Committee members said the build-out will move forensic testing out of improvised spaces into a larger, dedicated lab and that data from the facility will be shared with area police departments, the county health department and local task forces that coordinate community mitigation work. Committee legal staff advised the group the spending needs an appropriation through the county board and a designated signer for contracts.

The committee’s chair described the project as the final funding necessary to complete a forensics space in the sheriff’s office after roughly two years of planning and preliminary work. The committee noted some equipment purchases that are not opioid-specific will be funded using a separate grant identified by staff in the meeting.

During discussion, Assistant State’s Attorney Frank and State’s Attorney Mosser advised that because the settlement funds require mitigation reporting, the health department must receive timely overdose and testing data to justify the abatement. Mosser warned that if the state reviews the use of funds and finds reporting or justification lacking, the state could flag the appropriation and require repayment.

Committee members moved and amended the resolution to (1) route the appropriation through the county board as a separate formal appropriation, (2) designate the county or the county board designee to sign contracts, and (3) ensure required reporting to the health department will occur. The committee voted to approve the resolution as amended.

Committee staff reported the opioid fund balance before the vote: $2,586,254.82 total, $667,220.34 previously allocated, leaving $1,919,034.43 unallocated. Members noted new settlement receipts may increase the available balance.

Next steps identified by staff and legal counsel included preparing the county-board appropriation resolution and updating contract language to reflect the designated signer and reporting obligations. The committee did not specify an exact timeline for construction start dates at the meeting.