County attorney’s office applies for nearly $2 million in grants to combat local drug problem

YORK – The York County Attorney’s office, along with the York County Juvenile Diversion program, is applying for two federal grants – if awarded, the value could total nearly $2 million.

The intent, says York County Attorney Gary Olson, is to create new programs to help combat the use of illicit drugs in York County, which he calls a “very serious problem.”
He and Tristan Perry, diversion director, addressed the York County Commissioners this past week.
“I have applied for a $1.3 million grant, which if successful would be awarded over a 3-year period,” Olson explained. “It would be $443,000 a year. The grant does not involve the county spending any money. The incentive, on my end, is to make a difference. I was born in York and graduated from high school here in the 1970s and the issues of substance abuse here haven’t changed too much. They continue to be very serious.”
He explained how the grant money would not come from tax dollars – rather, it is money generated by opioid settlements.
“This is to address our serious substance abuse issue in York County,” Olson said.
He said a 2022 study shows incarceration in Nebraska has vastly grown, as has the prison population. The costs associated with incarcerating people have grown exponentially, yet recidivism also increased.
“Regarding York County – the York County Jail – the bookings in the last year numbered 656 and half of those were from the City of York,” Olson said. “York County, for its size, has an extraordinarily high rate of crime.”
Olson said York County is tied with another county for the highest incarceration rate in the state.
“The program I’m trying to start with these funds, if awarded, would hopefully bite into what the study found about our county,” Olson said. “York’s location, with Interstate 80 and Highway 81, makes it a major transportation hub. And while that brings a lot to the economy, it also brings challenges regarding crime in this region. It brings a host of issues York County has to deal with. This program takes that into account. We are seeking to create a program to provide resources to respond to illicit substance abuse. This crisis impacts many aspects of our community. This is to help those who have been affected, with community-based sources and strategies to help with treatment and recovery programs. The program I want to do is an adult diversion program. The primary focus is to get services to individuals pre-booking. The focus is to get opportunities to people as soon as possible. Hopefully, we will see a reduction in crime in York County.”
If the grant is awarded, Olson said the county will be notified by November or December, with the funds to arrive in March of 2025. He also said it would create the need for two additional employees.
“And then we have to get into where would we house the new employees?” asked Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier, noting the courthouse is already very full as far as office space.
“The budget can facilitate the space,” Olson said.
“Within these walls?” Obermier asked.
“Not necessarily,” Olson said. “There’s not much space here.”
“Would you look then at renting additional space elsewhere?” Obermier asked.
Olson said, yes, that would likely be the case.
“Again, this is opioid settlement money, not tax money,” Olson reiterated.
“We could formulate this in the budget in lieu of the grant; basically, if the grant doesn’t happen the program won’t happen,” Obermier said.
“Thank you for working on this, to look at this problem in York County,” said Commissioner Andy Bowman. “I see this has having a great, long-lasting benefit for York County.”
“Resources in rural America are hard to get and we are working to find funds to address these shortcomings in our system,” Olson said.
“Regarding the timeline, you said it would be three years of funding,” said Commissioner Daniel Grotz. “In a perfect world, we would get the award, start the program and then after three years it would be extended. What happens if we build the program and the funds dry up? How would you continue the program after the funds are expended?”
“To be blunt, if the program really works, as I believe it will, ideally we could reduce law enforcement by half,” Olson said. “That would be great. And the governor has said he wants to see a substantial improvement in recidivism so maybe there would be state funds to assist if this program is successful.”
“I’m sure as we move forward with the budget, we will probably have more questions,” Obermier said.
The commissioners did not have to take any action, as the county attorney is already authorized to make the grant application.
Regarding the second grant application, Perry said this grant would help expand the juvenile diversion program by offering the same type of services described by Olson. This grant would be worth $660,000 over three years.
“This grant does require a local match,” Perry said. “The local match would be 20% for the first two years and 40% for the third year. I’m hoping the match can be in-kind – office space, supplies etc. I will soon find out if that is allowable. So hopefully there would be no cash match. The application is due July 2. They only award six so I don’t know how likely this would be.”
He said the program would include paying for hours from a professional with Four Corners Health Department to work with the juvenile program. “So this wouldn’t add a position, it would be sub-awarding Four Corners to provide those services.”
“My question on the match, so it would be about a $175,000 match?” Grotz asked.
“An in-kind match would help alleviate that,” Perry said. “This would greatly strengthen our program.”
“How would this work – we apply for the grant and then you find out the in-kind match isn’t an option and this board can’t come with those funds?” Grotz asked.
“You are not obligated to take the award,” Perry said.
“That’s the biggest thing for me,” Grotz said. “My hang-up is finding that money if the in-kind match isn’t available.”
“We know what’s going on with our youth and the drug issues are going up,” Olson said. “The amount of money we have saved the county with the juvenile diversion program is substantial. And the cost savings, on the back end of this, would be evident. Coming out of the gate, it might look like a lot but there will be savings on the back end.”
“Our match, to me, looks like a drop in the bucket compared to what it would do in our county,” said Bowman. “The potential benefit is so great. Whether we want to admit it or not, we have a problem in this county. I make a motion to approve the grant application.”
The motion was seconded by Commissioner LeRoy Ott.
“Well, it also comes down to the budget,” Obermier said.
“Our drug and alcohol problem should be at the top of the list of what we are doing,” Bowman said. “Everyone wants to bitch about the roads but this is a bigger problem.”
All the commissioners voted in favor of making the grant application.