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Commission Minutes—June 19, 2023 5730 <br />Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater Executive Director Judy Lee was present and said the FM <br />Community Theater currently engages 40,000 people per year and anticipates bringing in 60,000 <br />people once the new facility is complete. She said the theater will bring revenue and further <br />development in the downtown area. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Kapitan moved and Mr. Grindberg seconded to participate in the request for <br />Tax Increment Financing (TIF) in the City of Fargo submitted by Kilbourne <br />Group to assist with the redevelopment of a property located in the 600 block of <br />NP Avenue for up to five years. On roll call vote, the motion carried <br />unanimously. <br />9. JAIL, Medical staff transition to County discussion <br />County Administrator, Robert Wilson was present and said Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) has <br />approached the County with a request to take over inmate medical services at the Cass County Jail. <br />He said currently, FCPH provides inmate medical services and other public health services in Cass <br />County. He said FCPH has previously discussed concerns regarding continuing inmate medical care <br />and discussions ended with FCPH agreeing to continue to provide services while noting FCPH <br />cannot provide additional nursing services or an increase in the number of staff. Mr. Wilson said with <br />the number of inmates in the jail continuing to increase and the addition of 196 new cells by 2025, it <br />may be appropriate for the County to plan for assuming responsibility for inmate medical care in <br />2025. He said County staff have begun researching the actions needed to assume responsibility and <br />items include acquiring a medical records database. employee transition from City of Fargo to Cass <br />County employment, recruiting and supervision of medical staff, insurance/liability and internal <br />budgeting or contracting services. <br />FCPH Director. Desi Fleming was present and said other public health agencies around North <br />Dakota are transitioning nursing staff to County staff. She said FCPH began offering basic services <br />to inmates and now more services and care is needed. <br />Mr. Peterson said it is time to evolve and transition nursing services from FCPH to the County. He <br />said he believes the goal of the transition in January of 2025 will allow County staff and FCPH to <br />adequately plan and transition services. <br />10. OPIOID LITIGATION FUNDS, Transfer of funds to City of Farqo (FCPH) <br />Mr. Wilson said several years ago, Cass County joined the Opioid Multi-District Litigation and over <br />the past year several defendants have reached settlement agreements resulting in payments to <br />plaintiffs including Cass County. He said the Finance Office has set up a dedicated account to <br />receive all opioid settlement funds. As of June 16th, this account totals $126.154.57. Mr. Wilson said <br />City of Fargo also joined the litigation and will be receiving settlement funds. He said FCPH has <br />developed an Opioid Settlement Funds Plan and Future Strategies Proposal. He said the FCPH has <br />proposed that Cass County and the City of Fargo pool settlement funds to be expended according to <br />the developed proposal. He said there is no formal agreement at this time, the item today is for <br />Board discussion on how to proceed with the settlement funds. <br />Ms. Fleming said the County has two options to utilize the Opioid Litigation Funds. She said the <br />Funds can be given back to the State to be utilized throughout the state for opioid mitigation. She <br />said the second option is funds can be given to a local public health organization (in Cass County's <br />case, FCPH) for opioid mitigation. <br />Mrs. Scherling asked what input the County will have on the expenditure of the funds if they are <br />given to FCPH. Ms. Fleming said FCPH has created a plan and strategy proposal for the use of <br />funds. She said the plan includes input from the Cass County Sheriff's Office to provide Narcan to <br />inmates who are released from the Jail. Mr. Peterson said he appreciates FCPH is a resource that <br />can aid in opioid mitigation. He said more funds are needed to do more impactful and needed <br />mitigation.