Price County board gets first look at three-year opioid settlement plan
Price County’s Health & Human Services Board spent its August 12 meeting mostly in listening mode. Board members took in a first look at a three-year opioid settlement spending plan, heard SNAP error-rate numbers, honored a longtime foster family, and met two new staff members. No final votes landed on the big-ticket items.
That came later. The board formally approved the opioid funding plan at its September 9 meeting. August was the deliberation stage, and County Administrator Nick Drier made clear the ball was in the board’s court.
So here is what surfaced at the August meeting that matters now.
Quick Answer: The board reviewed a proposed three-year spending plan for roughly $285,000 in opioid settlement funds, with a resolution to use the money to come at the September 9 meeting. Members also heard that Price County’s SNAP error rate slipped to about 6.6%, celebrated foster parents Chris and Dennis Connor for 38 years of service, and welcomed new child-welfare and ADRC staff.
What did the opioid committee recommend?
Last updated: September 2026
The opioid advisory committee has met four times out of five allotted sessions. At its fourth meeting, it settled on a list of ways to spend the settlement money and voted to pass that list to the board.
The county has received roughly $285,000 so far from the settlement. The money is not a lump sum that repeats each year. After the three-year plan, payments drop to under $15,000 a year, according to Drier.
“At that point, the Health & Human Services Board could just allocate that remaining money each year,” he said.
Board members got a one-page rundown of the proposed allocations before the meeting. Drier called the August agenda item mostly an FYI.
“You’ll have time to look at that,” he said. “You can write questions to yourself so that you can bring them back to our meeting next month.”
The resolution and final discussion followed at the board’s September 9 session, where the plan was approved.
How did Price County’s public health department fare in its state review?
The county took its 140 review early. A state team visits every five years to check that a level two health department follows statutes, but Price County volunteered to bump its review up two years.
“Everything got kind of jumbled up” during the COVID years, Public Health Unit staffer Tiffany said. The state asked who wanted to go early, and the county raised its hand.
The review went well. State reviewers called the department “kind of a little hidden gem,” Tiffany reported, and director Sarah Risoha said the feedback was “extremely glowing.”
One state interviewer even asked whether she could work at Price County, Risoha said.
Amanda Kosec got individual recognition from the DHS Office of Policy and Practice Alignment for her work on the health building network. The department and the board received matching thanks for backing her.
Final written recommendations from the 140 team are expected in the coming months.
How did the SNAP error rate move?
Beth walked the board through the four steps of SNAP quality-control reviews. States pick a random sample of households each month, interview participants, and check claims against verified expenses, including shelter and utility costs.
The 2025 error rate placed the Northern Consortium ninth in the nation at 5.72%. New numbers released about two weeks before the meeting put the rate at 6.57%.
The consortium earned a perfect score with zero findings on the fresh review, Beth noted. Still, the bump triggered new precautions.
“We have protocols in place because of the error rate increasing,” she said, citing a pre-certification review tool that flags certain cases for a second look before benefits go out.
Overpayments must be repaid, and underpayments get reissued, so each household receives exactly what it is entitled to. The county has won some disputes in the past, Beth added.
What did the fiscal report show about children’s placements?
The high-cost placement report ran “a little bit high,” especially in children and youth. Fiscal and administrative lead Carrie Hammond said some of that was expected and partly outside the county’s control.
Hammond and staff are building a more comprehensive report that pairs expenses against incoming revenues.
“We just want to make sure we do it right,” she said, projecting a full version for the board next month.
Who did the board honor and welcome?
The meeting opened up its middle stretch for recognition. Foster care coordinator Jasmine Marlinga presented a plaque to Chris and Dennis Connor, who have been foster parents for Price County for 38 years.
Since the statewide computer system went live in 1996, the Connors have had roughly 52 placements, not counting the eight years before that.
“I’ll tell you, you don’t know how many times we’d say down the hall, ‘We know the Connors will take them,’” an agency veteran said. “Even at two o’clock in the morning.”
Chris credited the agency for making it work. “We always felt supported,” she said.
Cake followed, and the board urged people to stick around and chat.
The board also met two new hires. Maddie Bogart, a May graduate of UW-River Falls with a psychology degree, joined the children’s waiver and comprehensive community services teams and will handle crisis calls once training wraps. Amy Trethaway Madson started as an ADRC specialist in June.
What else came up?
Stacey Pomeroy joined the board, filling the nurse seat. The finance chair noted the county needs both a nurse and a nurse practitioner on the panel.
The aging and disability unit served 1,622 meals in April, 1,445 in May and 1,611 in June across congregate and home-delivered sites. Brantwood led congregate meal counts.
Transportation logged 11,763 miles, 412 volunteer hours and 102 trips over the quarter. The elder benefit specialist saw 54 clients.
The nutrition advisory council met July 30 at First Presbyterian Church in Phillips. Beverly Hakenin joined as the Brantwood representative, and David Schmidt was elected vice chairman.
The department is advertising for an economic support specialist, with applications closing August 19. Behavioral health hired one worker and still has two openings.
Board orientation is set for September 9 at 1 p.m. That same day, the board would approve the opioid plan that members first saw in August.
Frequently asked questions
When will the board formally decide on the opioid settlement spending?
The plan moved to a resolution and final approval at the board’s September 9 meeting. The August 12 session was the first look and discussion stage.
How much money is in the opioid settlement fund?
The county had received about $285,000 by mid-August. Annual payments shrink to under $15,000 after the three-year plan ends.
What is a 140 review?
It is a state inspection of a level two health department, normally done every five years, to confirm the county follows required statutes. Price County’s review went well and produced glowing feedback.
Did Price County’s SNAP error rate go up or down?
It moved from 5.72% to 6.57% in the latest numbers, though the Northern Consortium posted a perfect score with zero findings on the recent review.
Why were the Connors honored?
Chris and Dennis Connor have served as Price County foster parents for 38 years, with roughly 52 placements since 1996. The board gave them a plaque and cake.
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