Elyria Council approves joining One Ohio plan to divide potential opioid settlements

ELYRIA — Elyria will sign its name onto "One Ohio," a plan to divide potential opioid litigation funds across the state. On Monday, City Council approved signing onto the agreement that would unite with the state in its ongoing opioid litigation. One Ohio, which was proposed by Gov. Mike DeWine and Attorney General Dave Yost, would take 11 percent off the top for attorney fees and then give 30 percent to local governments, 55 percent to a foundation that would address addiction run by local government leaders and 15 percent to the state. Cities in Ohio have until Friday, March 6, to sign onto the agreement, and Elyria Council President Vic Stewart said they can back out before the deadline if they want to. The plan to divide the funds would only happen if Ohio is successful in its lawsuit against drug companies. Stewart said that the attorney representing Elyria said this is the best course of action for the city, with the best possible outcome right now. "This is just the first step with the pending litigation for opioids," Stewart said. "This is getting on board with the state and leading the charge with this and us following suit. ... This is a huge step to come to some final numbers." Council members agreed to sign onto One Ohio after meeting in executive session, which is closed to the public, to discuss pending litigation. Elyria sued Purdue Pharmacy, the maker of the painkiller Oxycontin, in November 2017. In September 2019, Purdue Pharma settled with about half the states and thousands of local governments over the opioid crisis. The state of Ohio also filed a lawsuit in 2017. Elyria would be the first Lorain County city to sign onto the agreement. Lorain and North Ridgeville also had its own litigation cases over the opioid crisis, as did Lorain County. In other business, City Council members officially approved to bid out for the $5.7 million Chestnut Commons road extension project. Council also approved $400,000 to come out of Issue 6 funds, the 0.5 percent income tax, to get a new parking lot for the Elyria Police Department. The next City Council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, March 9, where Community Development and Finance Committees will meet in council chambers inside City Hall. Contact Laina Yost at (440) 329-7121 or lyost@chroniclet.com. Follow her on Twitter @MissLainaMae.