The Saline County Commission gave the go-ahead this morning for county prosecutor Tim Thompson to opt the county into two proposed settlements with opioid manufacturers.

The commission received an update from Thompson at this morning’s session on efforts by the Missouri Attorney General’s office to secure settlements with nine manufacturers. Thompson noted that Missouri counties have until Sept. 30 to opt into the settlement with Perdue Pharmaceuticals and the Sackler Family, while the deadline for a second suit against eight other manufacturers is Oct. 8. Thompson added that Saline County has received about $112,000 from a previous settlement, and that one of the lawsuits could result in Missouri and its participating counties receiving up to $91 million to use toward drug abuse prevention and treatment programs.

One of those potential uses also came before the commission this morning, when Southern District Commissioner Monte Fenner read a request from Sweet Springs police chief Shane Gooden for $2250 for his department’s officers to participate in a four-hour training course offered by Avila University. Presiding Commissioner Becky Plattner joined Fenner in supporting the request, while Northern District Commissioner Stephanie Gooden abstained.

Commissioners also voted to accept the only bid submitted for the purchase of a road tractor. Saline County’s Common Road District will receive a Kenworth T880 from MHC of Springfield for a net price of $140,303. Fenner abstained from the vote. Commissioners also approved a liquor license for Holiday Lanes and requests from the Marshall Chamber of Commerce to use the courthouse lawn Oct. 25 for the Viking Block Party during Missouri Valley’s homecoming, and Oct. 30 for their annual trick or treat event. They also approved a number of destruction requests from the sheriff’s office, emergency management agency, and building and grounds department.