The Buena Vista County Board of Supervisors has approved spending up to $12,000 in opioid settlement funds to upgrade and maintain lifesaving AEDs across the county.
The funds come from national opioid litigation settlements, which have provided counties like Buena Vista with restricted-use dollars to address substance abuse and improve public health and safety. Eligible expenses include equipment that supports emergency response—like AEDs, or automated external defibrillators.
Buena Vista County Emergency Management Coordinator Aimee Barritt presented the proposal at last Tuesday’s board of supervisors meeting, noting that the county owns 32 AEDs, many of which need new electrodes and batteries.
The board approved $7,630 for immediate needs, including 11 sets of replacement pads and three new AED units for the engineer’s office, veterans office, and marina. Another $3,680 will be spent in January to prepare for units expiring in early 2026.Â
The board also discussed future proposals, including a juvenile drug court program that may seek $10,000 in opioid funds later this year.
