After finalizing their budget for the upcoming fiscal year during Wednesday morning’s regular meeting, the Marshall County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve a partnership with McFarland Clinic for a sharps disposal initiative utilizing non-taxpayer dollars from the Opioid Settlement Fund.

Assistant Marshall County Attorney Kiyoko Kieffer explained the program, led by Marshall County Public Health Director Sydney Grewell, will facilitate the safe disposal of used needles.

“I would note for you that used needles happen generally amongst Marshall County residents on a daily basis. Some people can be suffering with kind of normal-ish things, diabetes, (and) other things, so this agreement constitutes a partnership through the county and McFarland,” Kieffer said. “It allows a larger needle disposal container to be kept on the site at McFarland as well as containers for individuals to use for safe needle disposal.”

Essentially, McFarland staff can pass out one of the two containers for patients to use at the clinic as needed, and Kieffer said disposal can be “complicated” and put the public at risk if they are handled in an unsafe manner. The board’s approval would allow the county’s insurance to cover the large sharps disposal bin.

“What this means is it’s really a great example of the public-private partnership. We’re able to accomplish really meaningful community safety standards with this opioid settlement money at a wider general public use,” Kieffer said.

Supervisor Carol Hibbs thanked Kieffer for bringing props along to demonstrate how the containers look, and Kieffer credited Grewell with doing “a great job.” Calling the initiative “a valuable partnership,” Hibbs motioned to approve the agreement and authorize the chair to sign, and it passed by a unanimous 3-0 vote.

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Contact Robert Maharry

at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or

rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.