OAK HARBOR: City receives nearly $1 million from opioid settlement [VIDEO] (WNT)
Jessie Stensland reports in the Whidbey News-Times from the Oak Harbor City Council workshop of Wed., Aug. 23, 2023.
Oak Harbor and Island County have started receiving funds from a state settlement in one opioid-related lawsuit, but neither has specific plans on how it should be spent.
Oak Harbor’s share will be $955,000 while the county gets nearly $1.5 million. The funds will be distributed over 17 years.
Capt. Tony Slowik with the Oak Harbor Police Department gave a presentation to the Oak Harbor City Council last week about the settlement funds. The city will have about $102,000 collected by the end of the year.
They Said It
Island County Prosecutor Greg Banks said settlements of other lawsuits against manufacturers, distributors, retailers, marketers, opioid makers and doctors are unresolved and could result in more money for the city and county. As a result, county officials are allowing the funds to accumulate until they have a better handle on the final amounts.
“We want to develop a strategy that will have the greatest impact and not just start spending,” Island County Commissioner Jill Johnson said.
Banks explained that the county is involved in two opioid lawsuits. The Multidistrict National Prescription Opiate Litigation is a consolidation of hundreds of lawsuits from local jurisdictions against many different defendants that contributed to the epidemic in different ways.
A second lawsuit is against McKinsey and Company. Banks explained that the company provided consulting services to some of the “big pharma” companies and is alleged to have helped concoct the plans for mass marketing of known highly addictive substances.
On the Ballot in November 2023
| CITY OF OAK HARBOR |
|---|
| City Councilmember, Position 1 Tara Hizon, the incumbent |
| City Councilmember, Position 2 Andy Plumlee Chris Wiegenstein Incumbent Beth Munns did not file for re-election. |
| City Councilmember, Position 3 Eric Marshall, the incumbent |
| City Councilmember, Position 4 John Chaszar Barbara Armes Chris Wiegenstein, the incumbent, was appointed to this position after Filing Week closed. He had chosen to file for Position 2. |
| Mayor Ronnie Wright Shane Hoffmire Incumbent Bob Severns did not file for re-election. |
