Federal Grant Would Add Staff to Fight Opioid Abuse

The County of Kaua‘i Office of Prosecuting Attorney is looking to add a staffing position through federal funding to help it combat drugs on the island.

On the Kaua‘i County Council agenda for its Wednesday, Feb. 23 meeting is a request by the prosecuting attorney to allow for the county to apply for, receive and expend $98,500 in federal money to hire a part-time position to work with the police department’s vice investigators, focusing 50% of their time on methamphetamine trafficking and opioid focused prosecution.

The funds would also cover cover a portion of fringe benefit costs and office supplies, the agenda item states. The anticipated contract date would be for July 1 through June 30, 2023.

The prosecuting attorney’s office is also asking for permission to accept $48,689 to be used for salaries, wages and supplies for its Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit. The recurring grant and
funds would be utilized from June 1 to Jan. 15, 2023.

A third request solicits authorization of $35,790 of federal grant funding to continue employment of one full-time process server to continue its work process serving for the prosecutor’s office for three months, purchase office supplies, and allow officers of the police department to attend training sessions.

The grant would cover expenses from Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2024.

The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.