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Vilas County Board approves opioid settlement agreement

PIXABAY.COM

A settlement agreement could result in a check of just under $1 million to Vilas County after the county board approved an agreement on opioid lawsuits at their regular board meeting.

“This may be the largest settlement we have experienced,” according to Vilas County corporation counsel Jack Albert. “Vilas County share of the agreement involving opioid lawsuits filed by the State of Wisconsin will be $1,317,893 minus 25% attorney fees for a net of $988,419.”

The adopted resolution calls for a county opioid account that will be separate from the county general fund and dedicated to funding opioid abatement measures. The county will establish an escrow agreement and direct the escrow agent to segregate the funds to pay the fees, costs, and disbursements to law firms owed by the county.

Albert indicated Wisconsin settlement agreement was the “highest in the country at 70% or $281,578,248 with 70% distributed to counties and 30% to the state.”

Albert said there is a mandatory location where the money goes saying “it’s required to be spent in the areas of the county where we had expenses, and for us it’s social services and law enforcement.”

Supervisor Tom Maulson asked about the tribes with Albert indicating tribes are doing it on their own with Supervisor and Lac du Flambeau tribal member Joseph Wildcat, Sr. agreeing to find what his tribe is doing.

Redistricting plan approved

The county board adopted the final redistricting plan for 21 county board seats after all 15 municipalities adopted ward plans in accordance with county districts.

You can view the map here.

A public hearing on the plan had only one comment directed to municipal ward plans and if Ward 1 has to be the location of the town polling site. County clerk Dave Alleman indicate he would seek a state answer.

The plan will be in effect until after the 2030 census results are determined or until it is superseded by a future district plan adopted by the county board.

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