The City of Hastings will receive some funding from Dakota County to help battle the opioid epidemic.
The Hastings City Council on Monday night approved a Joint Powers Agreement with the county, which has agreed to share a portion of the settlement it receives from lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. Some money has been received and others will be divided among states, counties and cities through 2028.
The funding can be used for law enforcement expenditures and programs to help organizations and those affected by the opioid epidemic. Cities over 30,000 in population get direct funding. Dakota County has agreed to share its portion of the settlements with cities under 30,000 in population, including Hastings.
The breakdown of money available to the county and cities over 30,000 is:
Dakota County received $9,127,527.20 from the initial settlement, with a “second wave” settlement expected of $7,429,374.49.
Apple Valley: Total $1,120,150.91.
Burnsville: Total: $1,562,938.73.
Eagan: $1,370,012.71.
Inver Grove Heights: $821,494.36.
Lakeville: $532,577.24.
In other city council business:
Committee assignments – With DawnMarie Vihrachoff being sworn into office to represent Ward 1 at the onset of Monday’s meeting, she was appointed to serve on the following committees:
Finance Committee – chair
Parks & Recreation Committee – chair
Planning Committee
Utilities Committee
Dakota Broadband Board
Vihrachoff replaces Tina Folch, who resigned effective March 11 because she is moving out of the city.
Lease agreement – The city council approved a short-term lease agreement with Melanie Brewer and the Method Organization for the city-owned building just south of the Hastings Post Office at 213 Ramsey St. for $700 monthly.
The space has been vacant since the Hastings School District moved its Alternative Learning Center to space within the high school at the start of the 2022-23 school year. HEDRA has considered opening the space as a business incubator to help start-up businesses.
The Method Organization will host moving sales in the space until it moves into larger quarters.
Three Rivers Trail – The council approved a contract with Emmons & Olivier Resources to provide project management services for the Three Rivers Trail Project.
The city has budgeted $393,000 to complete reconstruction of 4,000 feet of train that runs from 31st Street E. to Tuttle Drive. The project includes rebuilding the trail and soil corrections based on Geotech findings.
The Emmons & Olivier bid was the lowest of three bids, with the highest coming in at $73,232.
