PORT ANGELES — Clallam County will allocate opioid settlement dollars to the Harm Reduction Health Center.
County commissioners agreed during their work session Monday to allocate the funds after the state Department of Health stopped providing supplies such as syringes, sharps containers, wound care items, personal protective equipment and other essential materials used in harm reduction services, according to an agenda memo.
The center will receive $50,000 for the remainder of 2025 and $100,000 for 2026.
“DOH paid for those supplies, we never budgeted them,” said Kevin LoPiccolo, the county’s health and human services director.
In other business, the commissioners agreed to fund the Port Angeles A Street wastewater infrastructure project with $1,393,167 in Opportunity Funds.
“This funding will be utilized to fund construction costs of replacing up to 3,720 linear feet of sanitary sewer main, 17 brick manhole structures and installation of 20 ADA curb ramps along A Street from the 17th/18th alley to Eighth Street in the Port Angeles western urban growth area,” the agenda memo states.
“That’s where the opportunity for housing exists, but the infrastructure is not there,” Commissioner Mike French said.
The infrastructure will support up to 1,400 additional households by 2045, of which an estimated 45 percent to 75 percent are anticipated to be affordable workforce housing, the agenda memo states.
The commissioners agreed Monday to call for a public hearing at 10:30 a.m. July 29 or as soon thereafter in the commissioners’ meeting room of the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St. The hearing will be to consider public testimony on the mid-year review of the 2025 Clallam County budget.
“To me, it’s most important that we all understand our basic assumptions going in,” Commissioner Randy Johnson said.
During the public hearing, a three-year historical lookback will be provided, the commissioners were told.
In addition, some changes were made to the contract the county has with the U.S. Coast Guard regarding the Slip Point Lighthouse property in Clallam Bay.
“This lease renews this relationship for a no-cost lease so long as the county assumes continuing maintenance of the property,” the agenda memo states. “Our facilities department has established a robust and enthusiastic volunteer group to spearhead property maintenance.”
Eventually the property will be a county park, commissioners were told.
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Reporter Emily Hanson can be reached by email at emily.hanson@peninsuladailynews.com.
