Commissioners approve opioid funds for "Project Lifesaver," Jared Kearschner joins Health Board
- Nathaniel Smith | Editor-in-Chief
- Nov 18, 2025
- 5 min read
This morning’s Commissioners Meeting, November 18, was more of a return to normalcy compared to the previous meeting held on November 4. The meeting began with the approval of the agenda, public comments (which there were none), and the approval of the meeting minutes from November 4.
“I need the approval of the minutes from November 4, 2025,” said Commissioner Phillip Marshall.
“I’ll make that motion,” said Commissioner Todd Ewen.
“I feel there needs to be a bunch of corrections on it,” said Commissioner Tony Cardwell. “It doesn’t truly dictate the meeting. There are a couple things mentioned that aren’t even in it toward the end.”
Commissioner Marshall then asked what exactly Commissioner Cardwell was referring to.
“There’s a bunch of stuff that got left out,” said Cardwell. “Everything toward the end of the meeting. Minutes can be used as a court document. So, if you ever get sued down the road, the minutes can be used for that. The [current] minutes don’t truly state what happened in the meeting. Just my opinion.”
“Have you revised it to include these things that you said weren’t mentioned?” asked Commissioner Ewen. “Have you got it written down?”
“No, I don’t have it written down,” replied Cardwell.
“Well, that would be a start,” said Ewen.
“There is no requirement for a public agency to keep minutes of the meeting, but if they are kept, they are available for public inspection and copying,” said Attorney April Geltmaker. “They are provided to the commissioners for review prior to your approval today. So, I would recommend to the commissioners that if they have any revisions or corrections when you get those minutes, that you respond back to the auditor so that she can review those. Minutes are just a summary, they are not to be verbatim. But if there are any errors, make sure you make those available today during the open meeting, or before the meeting when they are shared.”
“That being said, I’ll second [Ewen’s] motion,” said Marshall.
Cardwell stated that he plans to write down his revision and present it to the auditor. The commissioners then moved on to approve the claims and payroll, as per usual in every meeting. Myra Albertson and Captain Joe Keltner then approached the commissioners to discuss utilizing funds garnered from drug companies regarding their over prescription of opioid medications.
“Opioid funds were distributed as part of a class action lawsuit against the drug companies,” began Albertson. “The courts determined how much money the drug companies had to pay in for their overprescribing of opioids over the years. And so that money is coming in a little at a time. It's then sent to the states, and then the states are distributing part of that money to the counties. And so the process was that it was given to the commissioners, and the commissioners were supposed to decide who got the opioid money. Some of the money is restricted funds, meaning it has to be used for programs that are opioid based. Part of the money is used for unrestricted funds, where you can use it for pretty much anything.”
Marshall then asked what the difference was between restricted and unrestricted funds.
“Restricted funds have to go to a program that's actually in some relation being used for people who have opioid issues, or for instance, we can use it for classes in the jail for people who are being arrested for opioid or drug charges,” said Albertson. “Anything directly related to some kind of substance abuse opioid would be considered under the restricted, whereas unrestricted you can use for anything.
“So today, the JRAC board had a meeting and an application came in from Project Lifesaver, which Joe Keltner is part of, and it was asking for $2,000 to be paid out of the unrestricted funds,” continued Albertson. “The program that they are operating is not a new program they have operated in the past. It is geared towards children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and to the older population with dementia and Alzheimer's that have a tendency to wander. The project is asking for $2,000 to be used to continue to purchase bracelets and other items that they need to continue to operate their project that they have started. So I have brought Joe with me. If you have some questions for him about the project, because I honestly knew just a little about it when this application came in, and he has done very well at explaining any questions we've had as they went through the JRAC board's process.”
“How many bracelets are you using?” asked Marshall.
“Right now, we have seven on the program,” said Joe Keltner. “Throughout the past two or three weeks, I have gotten an influx of phone calls. People asking me about it, wanting to put their child on it, or an older adult on it. Right now we only have two spares. I like to keep one spare in case one breaks, because from time to time they will break. They get old. So my fear is, if we get an influx of new people that want to be put on this program, we're going to be behind and have to order this stuff, and they're going to have to sit and wait until we get it. So, with some funding here, with your help, we can buy some and have them sitting prepared for when somebody wants to be put on the program. All I have to do is get them set up and then we're going.”
“How much is a device?” asked Marshall.
“Between $400 and $500. And they come in a starter kit. So, it comes with 12 bracelets, it comes with the device and the transmitter, and it comes with everything that you would need to function for a year,” said Keltner.
“Who monitors the bracelets?” Cardwell asked.
“I monitor the bracelets every 60 days,” replied Keltner. “I have to go change the batteries. So every 60 days, they get a new band that holds the tracking device in place, and they get a new battery. These help us to locate older adults and children with developmental issues more quickly for a safe return to the family.”
“So you just need our permission to release the funds, is that it?” asked Ewen. “You aren’t asking for money?”
“No,” said Albertson. “The money has already been appropriated. So it is sitting there, and it will cover the $2,000 in unrestricted funds that they're asking for.”
“I think it's a no brainer. I'll make a motion to allow them to release the funds to supplement this additional need that they have,” said Ewen.
The commissioners were all in agreement, and the motion passed unanimously. The commissioners then voted to approve Jared Kearschner as the newest member of the Health Board.
In other news, Auditor Kyra Stephenson stated that this coming year, 2026, there will be 27 paychecks this year for government employees instead of the usual 26.
“Everyone’s pay will remain the same,” Stephenson said. “It will just be spread out across 27 paychecks instead of 26 because of how the calendar falls this upcoming year.”
Following brief updates from Paul Eckart and Rick Voyles regarding county projects, the meeting was promptly adjourned.
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