PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — Mason County officials will take the first steps toward determining how millions of dollars in opioid settlement funds will be spent during a public meeting Tuesday evening.
The Mason County Community Opioid Steering Committee will hold its organizational meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 24, in the Airport Conference Room, 5300 W. U.S. 10.
The meeting will include a pair of presentations outlining the framework for how opioid settlement funds can be used and how the county plans to move forward.
Amy Dolinky, a technical advisor with the Michigan Association of Counties, will present information on planning and capacity building for opioid settlement funds. Her presentation is expected to include guidance on allowable uses of funds, strategic planning, transparency requirements and available resources to assist local governments.
Kaitlyn Szczypka, Mason County administrator, will also provide an overview of the county’s opioid settlement process, including background on the national settlements and how funds are distributed locally.
Mason County is expected to receive approximately $1.6 million over an 18-year period as part of nationwide opioid settlements with pharmaceutical companies. As of February 2026, the county has received more than $642,000.
The steering committee, created by the Mason County Board of Commissioners, will serve in an advisory role. Its responsibilities include reviewing community assessment data, setting spending priorities and recommending a process for distributing funds. Final decisions on funding allocations will be made by the county board.
During the meeting, the committee will also consider establishing a regular meeting schedule. Future meetings are expected to include a presentation from Michigan State University on local community survey results related to substance use.
The meeting is open to the public and will include time for public comment at both the beginning and end of the session.
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