The Alger County Commission approved a new opioid policy, which will help train county staff in the use of naloxone and identifying opioid emergencies.
After meeting for the committee of the whole on Monday, May 8, the county approved the decision after listening to a presentation from LMAS Health District CEO Nick Derusha and LMAS Nurse Monica Eriksen. The two talked about growing problems with opioid issues and how stigma can accidentally deter people from learning about life-saving techniques.
Opioid abuse and misuse continues to be a risk in Michigan, according to LMAS. The drug is not always about taking them as part of a different illegal substance, but can come from valid prescriptions.
“This is not just for people engaged in dangerous behaviors but also for people with prescriptions,” Eriksen said. “The worst side effect from naloxone would be a bloody nose from administering it, which is going to be a better outcome than not having it at all.”
County Commissioner Kelly Livermore (R-District 4) shared her own personal story about how her father forgot how many pills he took and overdosed on an opioid prescription. Proper training and emergency responder response with the opioid blocker were able to revive him.
“It can happen to anybody and in any situation,” she said. “It always seems like we gravitate toward the bad side, but sometimes it’s children or elderly people. That happens too.”
The Alger County Commission Committee of the Whole was considerably tame, compared to a special meeting held last Friday, May 5 at the courthouse. The meeting would focus primarily on a verbal argument between Commissioner Dean Seaberg (R-District 2) and County Administrator Steve Webber regarding the use of county vehicles being brought to personal homes by staff. Seaberg said that the issue could be considered stealing while Webber said the way the issue was investigated caused reputational damage.
According to documents from the courthouse, Webber was approved to use a county vehicle after a discussion and vote by the county commission shortly after Webber was hired as the county’s first administrator, meaning that Webber acted appropriately in the use of the vehicle. However, that decision does not appear to be codified into a county policy, with multiple procedural and contractual changes for Webber and other staff that use county vehicles since the commission decision was made.
Policies and procedures involving the role of the county administrator are deep and well-connected in Alger County government, ranging from chain of command, interoffice communication, collective bargaining agreements and grant funding. The county has posted the vacant position due to Webber’s upcoming retirement and will review potential replacements and whether or not the role is needed in Alger County in the upcoming months based on discussion by the board.
