Supervisors approve signing opioid litigation settlement agreement, hear wide variety of updates at holiday-delayed and regular sessions
by Joe Moses
The Allamakee County Board of Supervisors met twice within a week’s, Tuesday, September 2 and Monday, September 8, following the closure of the Allamakee County Courthouse Monday, September 1 in observance of the Labor Day holiday. Coverage of both meetings follows below.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
The Tuesday, September 2 meeting was called to order by Board of Supervisors Chairperson Dan Byrnes with Supervisors Dennis Keatley and Tom Clark present. The meeting was delayed a day due to the Labor Day holiday Monday, September 1.
During the time allotted for Public Comment, Clark noted that he participated in the Black Hawk Bridge conference call last week. He advised that the ongoing marina enhancement was discussed with the removal of some trees being necessary to accommodate the operation of the car ferry. Relating to the proposed removal of 20 cottonwood trees from a quarter acre on the sandpile island car ferry landing area, Clark noted that a permitting process would require six months through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service with state legislators in Iowa and Wisconsin working to expedite this process, as the bridge closure is anticipated as early as mid-October. Clark further noted discussion of feedback from several arborists during the conference call relating to their assessments of the cottonwood trees to be removed which have been submerged for approximately half the year and are likely dead or dying as a result.
Clark also provided an update relating to an agreement allowing the use of the Cassville, WI car ferry from mid-fall to early spring after the bridge closure. He said a La Crosse, WI manufacturer is being pursued to build a similar car ferry for use during the remainder of the year until the completion of the replacement bridge, which is projected to take two years.
The meeting moved into the next agenda item relating to the notification of an electronic manure management plan (eMMP) filed online by Gav-N-View Farms. Byrnes noted that this matter is a notification for the public and that any questions relating to finding this eMMP online on the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) website may be directed to the County Auditor’s office.
Allamakee Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) Coordinator Jean Bossom addressed the next matter relating to the discussion and consideration of a request to place a OneBox Opioid/Emergency box in the County Courthouse. Bossom noted that Head of Courthouse Maintenance John Roe has been consulted, with placement of the opioid/emergency box near the automated external defibrillator (AED) on the second floor of the courthouse is being recommended.
At the Monday, August 25 Supervisors meeting, Bossom had provided information relating to the opioid/emergency box which contains two doses of NARCAN, a brand name naloxone nasal spray treatment which can help stabilize an overdose victim until paramedics arrive by rapidly reversing the effects of opioids. At the Tuesday, September 2 Supervisors meeting, Bossom clarified that having the opioid/emergency box available in the courthouse does not encourage opioid or drug use but is similar to a first aid kit in that it is available in case of an emergency. Bossom noted that the naloxone would be inventoried to ensure replacement prior to expiration. Following discussion, the OneBox Opioid/Emergency box placement on the second floor of the courthouse was approved.
The meeting moved into the discussion and consideration of signing the G8 opioid litigation settlement agreement. Assistant County Attorney Jill Kistler provided background on this matter in which she made note of the previously approved opioid litigation settlement agreement with companies Sandoz, Inc. and Purdue Pharma and funding anticipated from that earlier agreement. Kistler explained that the G8 opioid litigation settlement agreement relates to eight secondary manufacturers with the State of Iowa recommending moving forward with this settlement agreement. Following discussion, the Supervisors approved the matter and authorized Kistler to sign the G8 opioid litigation settlement agreement.
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