Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning put off signing on as an interested party to a lawsuit proposed by a Wichita law firm to test wholesale distribution of opioids.
County Counselor Alan Weber said the lawsuit would be filed as a contingency action, meaning Allen and any other party would not participate financially in its prosecution, rather would reap rewards if the lawsuit discovered an impact, and damages, to Allen Countians.
Weber explained the firm wants to uncover instances where opioids had been distributed to sources for distribution, other than legitimate retail establishments such as local pharmacies.
The contention is packages of opioids — such as hydrocodone and oxycodone — are sold on the sly to nefarious distributors by way of post office boxes. The claim being the drugs, which have become a choice of illegal use nationwide, are “hauled out of post offices by the boxful,” and then sold on the street, Weber said. “They (the law firm) wants to figure how that has impacted counties.”
“I’d like to know what other counties are doing,” before considering a decision locally, said Commissioner Jerry Daniels.
A local problem, interjected Sheriff Bryan Murphy, is theft of drugs that become illegal when they are not used by the intended person. “They break in and steal someone’s drugs or steal from their parents or grandparents.”
Attention to the illegal use of opioids has grown exponentially, including a summit here last week.
ALLEN COUNTY deputy sheriffs may be given authority to act as coroners.
“Response has been a problem,” Williams said. Giving deputies authority to rule a person dead would save money, he added, and “not tie up fatality accident scenes.”
Commissioner Jerry Daniels, a retired Highway Patrol trooper, recalled having to wait “for hours with remains on a highway” before a coroner came and gave permission for a body to be moved.
“That’s not right for the medical community, emergency responders or families,” Williams said.
The local coroner, who seldom if ever responds, is Dr. Erik Mitchell, Kansas City, Kan. In his stead are deputy coroners.
No special training, just a short class, would be required to increase the cadre of coroners to include all or part of Murphy’s officers.
Weber will ask Dr. Mitchell’s opinion before commissioners decide.
MURPHY, speaking for department heads, proposed employee raises of 5 percent for 2018.
Of that 2 percent, matching the consumer price index, would go to all employees. The remainder would be doled out through merit raises decided by department heads.
Weber also suggested commissioners realign longevity consideration. Currently, employees are awarded a day leave for each four years they work — one day after four years, two days after eight years, and so on.
Weber’s proposal is to replace days off with a commensurate bonus.
“We’ll look at it as a retention advantage,” said Daniels, though commissioners didn’t act on Weber’s proposal or raises.
Commissioners did approve 14 employee holidays for 2018, including the day after Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. The other 11 are traditional federal holidays.
